The role of psychologists in helping families of the one in five Americans suffering from mental illness is described. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill has been active in bridge building between psychologists and families through enhanced communication and improvements in support systems. An agenda of 15 recommendations for further…

With the recent trend towards diversionary projects for juvenile law offenders, various threapeutic residential and outreach models have been introduced. It was hypothesized that there are family characteristics which are related to high incidences of continued delinquent behavior, and that males from single parent, low-income families will be the…

In the field of child abuse, the psychologist's role is twofold: assessment of the dynamics involved in the particular case, and treatment. The psychologist's assessment could provide relevant information concerning whether to remove a child from the home, whether there is a danger to siblings, or whether the case would be amenable to treatment.…

Compared to the center's general sample of clients, 15 farm families who visited a therapy center for stress-related problems were more reluctant to enter therapy, showed a slightly better increase in well-being over the course of therapy, had less reduction in stress levels, and had lower life satisfaction at three-month follow up. (Author/NB)

Little information is available on therapeutic interventions or counseling techniques used with sexually abused children. Many experts consider parental and family support to be the single most important factor in preventing abuse from becoming a life destroying event. The goals of therapy are to make the child and family feel better about…

This information analysis paper reviews the literature on parent and family counseling, identified by a computer search of the ERIC data base from November 1966 through December 1979. An overview of parent and family counseling is followed by a presentation of basic issues, such as the counselor's role as a consultant to parents and teachers,…

Describes a number of brief interventions for providing services directly to children, including individual counseling as well as peer, sibling, and family group meetings. Mothers received education regarding parenting skills. A school liaison system was established; the shelter staff members were trained regarding child advocacy. (Author)

Epigenesis, or natural development, of family crisis, is a phenomenon visible in all families. This paper analyzes three families from an epigenetic viewpoint, illustrating that the natural development of family crises leads to hospitalization or symptom eruptions only when the family deals with the crisis in an ineffective or pathological manner.…

Discusses the Clinical Infant Development Program, an intervention project for mothers at extremely high risk of dysfunctional parent-infant interactions. A survey of services staff and clients showed that the staff found that provision of concrete services formed a bridge to abstract services, which the clients ranked as the most helpful…

Traditional psychological theories which focus on the pathological tendencies of the individual account for little of the reported widespread spouse abuse. Social exchange and general systems theories focus on problems in the relationship rather than problems in the person. Given that a family perspective may be helpful in long-term treatment of…

This report of a panel discussion focuses on the design, rationale, and evaluation of the Adolescent Crisis Unit for Treatment and Evaluation (ACUTE), a program of crisis intervention for young adolescents. An overview of the structure of ACUTE's clinical program describes the efficiency of the program in seeing referrals at the time of crisis,…

This first-person account of a case study on family therapy discusses two latency-age boys who were referred for treatment. The assessment was that in both cases it was the family itself that was disturbed and needed treatment. The therapist worked with the first boy and his family together. The therapy model used was the "proper" family…

When the husband's loss of job necessitates the wife's taking on the role of main family provider, this can be a major trauma for the whole family. This article examines ways in which the family counselor can help is resolving the crisis. (NG)

Substitute care for a child at risk has been been associated with psychological distress in the child and his family and a drain on public finances. To investigate the cost effectiveness and ultimate influence on family intactness of home-based family crisis intervention, 77 low income, inner city families with an adolescent child at risk of…

This paper discusses path analysis and the applicability of this methodology to the field of family studies. The statistical assumptions made in path analysis are presented along with a description of the two types of models within path analysis, i.e., recursive and non-recursive. Methods of calculating in the path model and the advantages of…