Innovations in Child and Family Policy: Multidisciplinary Research and Perspectives on Strengthening Children and Their Families

by Emily M. Douglas, Loretta L. C. Brady (Contribution by), Melissa Brown (Contribution by), Esther F. S. Carvalhaes (Contribution by), Jason Castillo (Contribution by)

Overview

Innovations in Child and Family Policy tackles many of the common problems and challenges that are considered to be at the heart of child and family policy: family creation, economic support, childrearing, and family care-giving. Innovations begins by defining child and family policy and discussing the history of this growing specialization within the social sciences. The main chapters of Innovations address policy and programmatic solutions to problems that face families by topic area: (1) early childhood and education, (2) government interventions with family violence, children's welfare, and the justice system, and (3) supports for children and families. Specifically, the chapters in Innovations address the availability of child care, family medical leave, special needs children, parent involvement in their children's education, preventing and addressing child abuse and neglect, children who witness partner violence, child support orders, children of incarcerated fathers, and young adults in the justice system. What makes this book unique is that it contains applied research from many program evaluations or assessments of existing state-level legislation. Social scientists from multiple disciplines examine the efficacy such programs and policies to make recommendations for expanded or new child and family policies.
For our novice and/or student readers, we hope that Innovations will help them to develop a greater sense of what academics, professionals, and politicians mean when they speak of "child and family policy" and also an appreciation for how social science research can contribute to policy-making to support children and families. For our more advanced readers, we hope that these chapters make a significant contribution to the conversations regarding how multidisciplinary social science research can inform policy recommendations. For all of our readers, we hope that the use-inspired research presented in Innovations will help to strengthen and support the we

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739137901
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	02/08/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Emily M. Douglas is assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at Bridgewater State College.

Table of Contents

List of Figures xi

List of Tables xiii

Acknowledgments xv

1 Introduction Emily M. Douglas 1

Early Childhood and Education

2 Hispanic Families and Family Literacy Practices: Differences by Country of Origin Patricia Hrusa Williams 11

3 Effects of Parental Involvement on First Graders' Approaches to Learning Esther F. S. Carvalhaes 29

4 Frayed Patchwork: The Need for Public Policy to Address Short-Term Child Care Needs Loretta L. C. Brady 49

5 The Contribution of the Helping Relationship in Promoting Retention in a Home Visitation Program to Prevent Child Maltreatment Michelle P. Taylor Karen McCurdy 63

Government Intervention: Family Violence, Children's Welfare, and Justice Concerns

6 Exploring the Effects of California's Shortened Reunification Time Frames for Children under Three Amy D'Andrade 83

7 The Multidisciplinary Misnomer: A West Virginia Case Study of Multidisciplinary Treatment Teams in Child Welfare Corey J. Colyer L. Christopher Plein 97

8 Identifying and Responding to the Needs of Children Residing in Domestic Violence Shelters: Results from the North Carolina Domestic Violence Shelter Screening Project Yvonne Wasilewski Robert A. Murphy Leslie Starsoneck Margaret Samuels Donna Potter Audrey Foster Lorrie Schmid 117

9 African American Caregiver Age, Social Support, and the Well-Being of Children in Kinship Foster Care Terry A. Solomon James P. Gleeson Arden Handler 135

10 Examining "Emerging Adulthood" in the Context of the Justice System Anne Dannerbeck Janku 153

Family Support: Policies and Programs

11 The Effect of Paternal Incarceration on Early Child Development Terry-Ann L. Craigie 173

12 The "State" of Paid Family Leave: Insights from the 2006 and 2007 Legislative Sessions Melissa Brown 191

13 New Parents Taking Time Off: A Look at California Paid Family Leave Stacy Ann Hawkins Sherylle J. Tan Diane F. Halpern 211

14 The Relationship Between Non-Resident Fathers' Social Networks and Social Capital and the Establishment of Child Support Orders Jason Castillo 227

15 Integrating Mothers' Views of Resources That Foster Growth for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders into Policy Judy Doktor Laura Dreuth Zeman Jayme Swanke 245

Index 261

About the Editor 265

About the Contributors 267