Advocates viewing the foster family and its specific problems as an open social system, as opposed to the closed, boundary-maintaining system of the nuclear family. (CM)

Analyzed findings of previous studies of the adolescent parent population to determine the relationship between age of parent and maltreatment, and whether adolescent parents are overrepresented within the maltreating and foster care populations. Found that adolescents are not overrepresented, suggesting that programs for adolescents should focus…

Draws from research on custody planning with HIV-infected parents, from clinical literature and experience, and from a training curriculum for child welfare workers developed and implemented by the author. Presents practical applications of the lessons learned about custody planning with HIV-involved families who are also involved with the state…

Discusses a treatment model that emphasizes the involvement of the child's own family in the undercare process and the development of mutual trust and respect among different members of the professional team. (SDH)

The benefits of day care - both to the child who receives it and to the mother who is freed by it - depends to an important degree upon helping the mother resolve her intrapsychic conflicts. This paper describes a project designed to meet the mother's needs in the day care situation. (Author/CS)

Presents a study which investigated three areas: (1) factors related to the court's determination of foster care status or availability of children for adoption; (2) the extent of agreement between agency recommendations and court orders; and (3) the impact of the court review on moving children out of foster care. (SDH)

Discusses responses of, as well as treatments for, the victim, the offender, and the family involved with incestuous abuse, and contends that nonaccusatory but firm intervention is preferable to prosecution in achieving primary prevention and rehabilitation. (BR)

Presents a retrospective appraisal of the outcome of adoption by comparing perceptions of both adoptive parents and young adult adoptees. (DP)

Two social workers and a pediatrician working as a team helped parents who brought their children to a medical center to perceive the parent-child relationship as a causative factor in developmental difficulties. (Author/AJ)

A preliminary report on a study of patterns of child care by drugs addicted mothers stresses indicators of risk to the infants revealed in the mothers' life-styles. (CM)

Reviews case histories of girls sexually misused by their family members, maintaining that such incestuous relationships usually result in profound psychological impairment in the abused child. (CM)

Discusses factors in providing safe, supervised setting for visits between parents and children who have been removed from them by child protective services. Presents common overestimations of parental capacity that doom visits, principles for effective visiting, and practical and inexpensive suggestions that are easy to implement and enjoyable…

Explores ways in which mothers in two Chicago neighborhoods share the possibility of danger with their children. Ten mothers in public housing and 10 in a nearby community were interviewed. Findings raise critical issues for those concerned with children's mental health and development. (SKC)

"Traumatic bonding" is defined as "the evolution of emotional dependency between...a child and an adult [in] a relationship characterized by periodic sexual abuse." Maintains that the concept holds promise for explaining confusing dynamics of incest. Demonstrates ways in which traumatic bonding can be applied to cases of incest…

Examines the literature about people who choose to become single adoptive parents. Reviews the demographic and personal characteristics of single parents who adopt, and summarizes the experiences of single parents with the children they adopt. Calls for further research on single parents who adopt special needs children. (GH)