Cities, Counties, Kids, and Families: The Essential Role of Local Government / Edition 1

by Sidney L. Gardner

Overview

Cities, Counties, Kids, and Families outlines a model for developing strategic policy for responding to children and family issues in local governments. It also discusses fifteen strategic roles that local government can play-most of which do not require direct funding, but depends upon the scarce resource of leadership. The book describes policy and analytical tools used by cities and counties, and makes a case for using these tools more strategically. It calls for strategic policy to respond to the four critical forces affecting children and family policy: families; race and culture; communities and neighborhoods; and regionalism. Finally, the book reviews policy in four critical areas affecting local governments: education and school readiness; substance abuse; youth development; and family support programs. It concludes with predictions of issues that will affect cities and counties in the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761830948
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	02/09/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Sidney L. Gardner serves as President of Children and Family Futures, a non-profit firm based in Irvine, California, which provides planning, evaluation and consulting services to government agencies, community-based organizations, and schools. Mr. Gardner served as Director of California State University, Fullerton's Center for Collaboration for Children, a consultant to the White House Domestic Council, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Director of the Hartford Private Industry Council, and an elected member of the City Council in Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated from Occidental College and was awarded a Master's degree in Public Affairs from Princeton University and a Master's degree in Religious Studies from Hartford Seminary.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 List of Figures Chapter 2 Frequently Used Abbreviations and Acronyms Chapter 3 List of Tables Chapter 4 A Personal Preface Chapter 5 Acknowledgments Chapter 6 Introduction Chapter 7 Strategy and Realities Chapter 8 Introduction to Section Two Chapter 9 Missing from Theory and Practice: The Role of Local Government Chapter 10 Still Fragmented, After All These Years Chapter 11 Strategic Policy: Moving the Bar Up Chapter 12 Making Better Policy through Two Sets of Tools: Using Information and Shaping Values Chapter 13 Reframing Ethical Issues in Services to Children, Youth, and Families Chapter 14 The Budget is the Policy Chapter 15 The Intergovernmental Stew: Cities and Counties; States and the Feds Chapter 16 Introduction to Section Three: The Four Forces Chapter 17 Families and Generations: The Connections Across Policies Chapter 18 Race, Culture, and Religion as Children and Family Issues Chapter 19 Community and Neighborhood Roles in Children and Family Policy Chapter 20 Regionalism and a Family Agenda Chapter 21 Introduction to Section Four Chapter 22 Education and Learning-The Inescapable Priorities Chapter 23 Abuse of Alcohol and Other Drugs as a Children and Family Issue Chapter 24 Family Support Programs and Family Income Support: The Future of FRCs as a Policy Choice for Local Government Chapter 25 Youth Development as a Function of Local Governments Chapter 26 The Role of Local Government in the Future Chapter 27 Putting It All Together: The Challenge of Leadership in Local Government Chapter 28 Author Biographical Sketch

Editorial Reviews

Gardner, president of Children and Family Futures, a nonprofit organization that provides planning, evaluation, and consulting services to government agencies, community organizations, and schools, is a veteran who has spent decades in the trenches. He offers extensive, relevant information and savvy advice. As a reult, this volume is an excellent handbook that ranges comfortably between specific examples and general lessons.Summing Up: RECOMMENDED. General readers, upper-division undergraduates and professionals/practitioners.

Choice Reviews - E.T. Jones

Gardner, president of Children and Family Futures, a nonprofit organization that provides planning, evaluation, and consulting services to government agencies, community organizations, and schools, is a veteran who has spent decades in the trenches. He offers extensive, relevant information and savvy advice. As a reult, this volume is an excellent handbook that ranges comfortably between specific examples and general lessons.Summing Up: RECOMMENDED. General readers, upper-division undergraduates and professionals/practitioners.--E.T. Jones, University of Missouri?St. Louis "CHOICE "

From the Publisher

Gardner, president of Children and Family Futures, a nonprofit organization that provides planning, evaluation, and consulting services to government agencies, community organizations, and schools, is a veteran who has spent decades in the trenches. He offers extensive, relevant information and savvy advice. As a reult, this volume is an excellent handbook that ranges comfortably between specific examples and general lessons.Summing Up: RECOMMENDED. General readers, upper-division undergraduates and professionals/practitioners.
— E.T. Jones, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Choice