The National Career Development Strategy Green Paper paper proposes a strategy that is committed to these principles: (1) quality through Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA) benchmarking, quality frameworks and processes and as a risk management strategy; (2) lifetime access to career development services; (3) development of career…

Recent social policy discourses in Aotearoa New Zealand focus on vulnerable children's well-being and the detrimental, long-term and costly impacts of child poverty. The discourse pervading much of the policy labels children and young people as "vulnerable" or "at risk" or "in crisis", a view, which we argue, is both…

An understanding of the close link between federal policy and family homelessness is critical for ensuring that one day no child in the United States is homeless. This article discusses the nature of family homelessness, the national policy framework that exists to help vulnerable families, the homeless assistance system that federal policy has…

This paper challenges the orientations and assumptions underpinning policies for disadvantaged young people (DYP) in Australia. We argue that policy interventions for young people generally exhibit a binary divide, some policies fostering leadership and creative endeavours targeted on "high-functioning" young people, especially within…

A sustained political commitment to investment in long-term youth development must consider the environmental (family and community) context of youth today. Home economists can serve as catalysts to financial investment and profamily policies that ensure adequate income, health care, and education for all. (SK)

Over the past 30 years, the political response to child maltreatment and its prevention has experienced periods of frantic activity, often followed by long periods of benign neglect. To an extent, this pattern reflects deep differences among child welfare advocates, researchers and practitioners on how best to proceed. While most everyone agrees…

Critically reviews the question of childhood in the context of simultaneous globalization and atomization of social life. Discusses childhood in relation to children as consumers, children as interpreters, and children as actors. Suggests that these ideas help explain some of the tensions and disruptions that characterize the lives of some…

This paper recommends adoption of a new vision of mental retardation prevention and an ecological approach to understanding the causation of mental retardation. The paper concludes that a comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated prevention program is needed that addresses a variety of personal, social, and environmental risk factors and the…

Maintains that knowledge of the temporal organization of adolescents' lives is valuable to the efforts of policymakers, citizens' groups, and others concerned with decreasing risk and improving developmental opportunities in adolescents' lives. Concludes that communities and families can be proactive in changing their rhythms in ways that…

This article is based on a textual analysis of European Commission documents that, from 1993 to 2006, construct the discourses of lifelong learning and the knowledge economy. Exploring an apparent conceptual laxity, it finds absolute consistency in the construction of two categories of learner: the high knowledge-skilled learner…

This article highlights major themes, issues, and recommendations that evolved from an August 1991 international symposium on risk and resilience in individuals with learning disabilities. Recommendations in the areas of research, direct services, and social policy are offered. (Author/DB)

Examines the development and operation of sponsored day care services in 12 English local authorities within the context of current policy developments. Suggests that provision for children in need is at risk for marginalization by current emphases on early education/child care for working parents. Highlights importance of developing services for…

Outlines Canada's policy commitments to promote social well-being by supporting Canadians' social rights and economic security; improving public health services, especially for children; and addressing child poverty and family needs. Discusses deficiencies in policy implementation. Presents a framework for well-being that encompasses…

Distills the literatures of social exclusion and developmental psychopathology by examining which children are likely to become socially excluded as adults and which are most vulnerable to adult psychiatric disorders or criminality. Points to the role of family for risk and protective factors. Considers policy initiatives to combat social…

Welfare reform is unavoidably related to children. The importance of considering children's well-being when governments change the rules of support for poor families cannot be overestimated. Findings in the welfare reform proposal contained in the "Contract with America," and elsewhere, are deeply disturbing because they seek to: deny…