The paper explores the relationship between 330 families' adaptations to their mentally retarded children and the manner in which parents plan for future residential and vocational opportunities. B. Farber's theory of minimal family adaptation is tested to see whether family characteristics (such as demographics and family career); child's…

This quasi-experimental study investigated the effects of teachers' use of interactive and non-interactive science homework assignments on family involvement in student homework, homework completion and accuracy, student science achievement, and student and parent attitudes about science homework. Two hundred and fifty-three students from ten…

Teaching communication skills to families with a dying member presents unique challenges. As M. R. Parks' critique of interpersonal communication literature suggests, it is important to keep in mind the larger social context surrounding the person dying and to maintain a balanced perspective of information exchange (e.g., self-disclosure) and…

A study examined parent-child differences in the Family Communication Patterns (FCP) model using the FCP's socio- and concept orientation measures extended to include measures of structure of control and involvement with the expectation that developmental differences in interpretation by parents and children will be demonstrated via differing…

Based on the philosophy that parents need assistance in dealing with family changes and deteriorating family life, the Jordan Family Education Center (JFEC) was established in 1979 in Midvale, Utah to meet the mental health needs of families and children in the district. The center was committed to the philosophy that parents should be involved in…

Because the life expectancy of women is longer than that of men and because men seem to marry younger women, most of the literature on caregivers of the elderly has focusd on women who care for elderly, disabled husbands. In order to explore the role of men as caretakers of disabled wives, 25 elderly widowers (aged 63-93) participated in…

Patterns of attachment in preschool-age children were investigated in a nonexperimental, naturally occurring stressful situation. The sample included 86 families with at least one child 18 to 54 months of age. In each family, the mother planned to deliver another child in a hospital birthing center. Separation from the mother during admission was…

Alcoholism is frequently called a family disease; encouraging and even insisting that family members participate in the treatment of alcoholics has become routine practice in almost every treatment setting. This study examined the relationship between treatment participation by a family member and two measures of recovery for three birth cohorts…

Based on interviews with 20 primary caretakers (the main person responsible for elderly relatives with chronic illness or disabilities) this pamphlet was written for family members who are caring for older relatives, and may also be helpful to professionals and paraprofessionals who work with the elderly and their families. The two main sections…

The use of reciprocal behavior contracts with families of behavior-problem adolescents was investigated. Most family contracting to date has involved one-way contracts; that is, the child agrees to certain responsibilities for which he will be reinforced by the parents. A reciprocal contract requires the parents, in addition to the child, to agree…

This excerpt from an address by the National PTA president to the PTA national convention (June 1992) examines PTA volunteers' responsibility to all children. Because fewer adults have direct ties to schools, those who are involved must help bring others into the picture. (SM)

The social reform and opening-up in Chinese society in the last three decades have resulted in overall changes in almost every aspect of social life of its people. As an important indicator in these changes, English has become an important tool in education for students to move ahead to a higher level of schooling, and better jobs in the…

This paper describes the first year evaluation of a community-wide, parent/family involvement program initiated in a midsized, Southeast community and school district. The program consists of three major components: (1) Community-Wide Efforts, (2) School-Home Communication, and (3) Home Involvement. Formative and summative evaluation data were…

This study explored the assumption of age-related differences among two groups of Irish women regarding their reported assessment of the value of family and marriage related tasks experienced in young adulthood. Six of Havighurst's tasks for young adulthood relate to marriage and family. These are: (1) selecting a mate; (2) learning to live with a…

To increase interactions and to improve communication between the school and home, the TransParent School concept was developed. The TransParent School Model (TSM) includes computer-based calling from the school and uses electronic mailboxes so parents can call and hear a message from the teacher every day. The model, first implemented in a school…