Whether childcare is seen as part of society's educational policy, welfare policy, or employment policy affects not only its form and content but also its public image. The contributors in this volume use current polices for the care of infants and preschool children to analyze debates and track the emergence of new state welfare practices across a variety of social and political configurations-and offer some conclusions about which methods work the best.

Children may be witnesses to crimes or accidents, or suspected victims of abuse or neglect, or they may be involved in some form of legal action such as custody cases. In these situations, they may need to be interviewed formally, and if this is not done properly, incorrect or inadequate information may be recorded or the child's position may not be correctly represented later in court. In cases of child abuse, the child may not be the only witness, and the quality of their verbal evidence is critical.
A Guide to Interviewing Children is a practical guide the evidential interviewing techniques needed by a range of professionals: social workers, forensic psychologists, lawyers, police and teachers. It outlines basic techniques, explains how to deal with children of different ages (from pre-school to fifteen years), how to deal with parents, the particular issues of sexual abuse, handling multiple interviews of one child and so on. It is written for an international readership, and will be more practical and cover a broader range of contexts than the other titles currently available.

This book examines how black children, who grow up in an impoverished environment construct their social reality, and why this process is a particularly critical factor in their perception and creation of self.

This book examines the major US welfare programs affecting children and presents a systematic evaluation of the evidence regarding the effects of welfare programs on the children themselves.

'Joe is Joe, a different label is not going to make him suddenly think he is someone else' (Joe's Mum)

Quotations like this about five year old Joe are used to illustrate this text, which draws on the experience of learning disabilities in the family. Peter Burke and Katy Cigno provide helpful definitions and reflect on some preliminary, but important theoretical ideas linking to social exclusion and vulnerability. Drawing on research and experience, different aspects of family lives are illustrated in all their diversity. The implications of stressful times, major upheavals and transitions for family members are examined in detail, indicating when help from professionals should be readily available.

"Learning Disabilities in Children "introduces the theory relating to learning disabilities from the family perspective, and includes an examination of support systems for parents, caregivers and siblings. The authors emphasize why contact from service providers is necessary, particularly those based in health, education and welfare agencies. In addition, the need to give power to children and families as a multi-agency responsibility is addressed, with the aim of promoting positive practice in the professional sector for the benefit of the children involved.

"Learning Disabilities in Children "is a useful resource for postgraduates specializing in child welfare, social work and community care. It will also be of interest to social workers, community caregivers, healthcare professionals and teachers, as well as to families where there is a child with learning disabilities.

Key features:
*Based on the experience of families with children who have learning disabilities
*A practical guide for professionals and care givers seeking to clarify and understand family needs
*Explains how a more inclusive partnership between children, their families and professionals may be achieved
*Includes a chapter on child development
*Provides a unifying framework for working in the complex field of childhood learning disabilities.

Learning Disabilities in Children is a useful resource for postgraduates specializing in child welfare, social work and community care. It will also be of interest to social workers, community caregivers, healthcare professionals and teachers, and families where there is a child with learning disabilities.

"Adoption, Race, and Identity" is a long-range study of the impact of interracial adoption on those adopted and their families. Initiated in 1972, it was continued in 1979, 1984, and 1991. Cumulatively, these four phases trace the subjects from early childhood into young adulthood. This is the only extended study of this controversial subject.

Simon and Altstein provide a broad perspective of the impact of transracial adoption and include profiles of the families involved in the study. They explore and compare the experiences of both the parents and the children. They identify families whose adoption experiences were problematic and those whose experiences were positive. Finally, the study looks at the insights the experience of transracial adoption brought to the adoptive parents and what advice they would pass on to future parents adopting children from different racial backgrounds. They include the reflections of those adopted included in the 1972 first phase, who are now adults themselves.

This second edition includes a new concluding chapter that updates the fourth and last phase of the study. The authors were able to locate 88 of the 96 families who participated in the 1984 study. Bringing together all four phases of this twenty-year study into one volume gives the reader a richer and deeper understanding of what the experience of transracial adoption has meant for the parents, the adoptees, and children born into the families studied. This landmark work, will be of compelling interest to social workers, policy makers, and professionals and families involved on all sides of interracial adoption.

First published in 1996. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Hidden Hands focuses on a specific and neglected area of contemporary child welfare; that of children's paid work and labour. This book provides the first cross-cultural examination of children's productive activities, their relationship to children's broader social lives, and their implications for the child's education, welfare and well-being. The contributors look at the situation both here and overseas. They discuss issues including conflicts between schooling, education and work in the UK, child poverty, motivating children to work, children from ethnic minorities, the work and labour of children in industrialised countries and the situation in the US, Denmark, Germany and Russia.
The growth in the study of childhood encompasses anthropology, sociology, social policy and social work, as well as education. This book will be of use in all of these areas.

Hidden Hands focuses on a specific and neglected area of contemporary child welfare; that of children's paid work and labour. This book provides the first cross-cultural examination of children's productive activities, their relationship to children's broader social lives, and their implications for the child's education, welfare and well-being. The contributors look at the situation both here and overseas. They discuss issues including conflicts between schooling, education and work in the UK, child poverty, motivating children to work, children from ethnic minorities, the work and labour of children in industrialised countries and the situation in the US, Denmark, Germany and Russia.

The growth in the study of childhood encompasses anthropology, sociology, social policy and social work, as well as education. This book will be of use in all of these areas.

Adults are being incarcerated in the United States at an ever-escalating rate, and child welfare professionals are encountering growing numbers of children who have parents in prison. Current estimates indicate that as many as 1.5 million children have an incarcerated parent; many thousands of others have experienced the incarceration of a parent at some point in their lives. These vulnerable children face unique difficulties, and their growing numbers and special needs demand attention. Existing literature indicates that children whose parents are incarcerated experience a variety of negative consequences, particularly in terms of their emotional health and well being. They also may have difficult interactions or limited contact with their parents. There are also issues connected with their physical care and child custody. The many challenges facing the child welfare system as it attempts to work with this population are explored in Children with Parents in Prison. Topics covered include: "Supporting Families and Children of Mothers in Jail"; "Meeting the Challenge of Permanency Planning for Children with Incarcerated Mothers"; "The Impact of Changing Public Policy on Relatives Caring for Children with Incarcerated Parents"; "Legal Issues and Recommendations"; "Facilitating Parent-Child Contact in Correctional Settings"; "Earning Trust from Youths with None to Spare"; "Developing Quality Services for Offenders and Families"; and in closing, "Understanding the Forces that Influence Incarcerated Fathers' Relationships with Their Children." Children and families have long struggled with the difficulties created when a parent goes to prison. What is new is the magnitude of the problem. This volume calls for increased public awareness of the impact of parental incarceration on children. Its goal is to stimulate discussion about how to best meet the special needs of these children and families and how to provide a resource for the child welfare community as it responds to the growing numbers of children made vulnerable by their parents' incarceration. Cynthia Seymour is general counsel at the Child Welfare League of America in Washington, DC. Creasie Finney Hairston is dean and professor at Jane Addams College of Social Work, the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Whilst there is a wealth of literature on working with children and adolescents, very little focuses on those who are in residential or foster care. Psychotherapy with Young People in Care is a practical guide to working with this group from a psychoanalytic therapeutic perspective.
Drawing on the author's years of experience and illustrated with a wealth of clinical examples, as well as a comprehensive glossary, the book tackles those issues most relevant to those working with children and adolescents:
* the place of psychotherapy in residential/foster care
* ethical considerations: confidentiality and sexual abuse
* particular problems faced by young people: ADHD; trauma; PTSD.
This refreshing and valuable book is an essential teaching text for all those who work with young people in the care system, including child and adolescent psychotherapists, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and social workers.

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Children may be witnesses to crimes or accidents, or suspected victims of abuse or neglect, or they may be involved in some form of legal action such as custody cases. In these situations, they may need to be interviewed formally, and if this is not done properly, incorrect or inadequate information may be recorded or the child's position may not be correctly represented later in court. In cases of child abuse, the child may not be the only witness, and the quality of their verbal evidence is critical.
A Guide to Interviewing Children is a practical guide to the evidential interviewing techniques needed by a range of professionals: social workers, forensic psychologists, lawyers, police and teachers. It outlines basic techniques, explains how to deal with children of different ages (from pre-school to fifteen years), how to deal with parents, the particular issues of sexual abuse, handling multiple interviews of one child and so on. It is written for an international readership, and will be more practical and cover a broader range of contexts than the other titles currently available.

This title was first published in 2002: In recent years there has been a trend among young people across Europe towards remaining longer in their parental homes. Many reasons have been suggested for this change in demographic patterns, but Teresa Jurado Guerrero's study of France and Spain represents the first in-depth cross-national analysis of this important social and economic issue. The book provides systematic comparisons of living arrangements at cross-national, cross-regional and individual levels and examines the results of two large-scale national surveys. It investigates the relevance of young people's employment situations, social policies related to youth, national and regional housing markets and family norms, and identifies policy measures which would encourage early home-leaving and family formation. The book exposes the existence and effects of different national and individual strategies surrounding the process of becoming socially independent, and offers unique insights into an issue of key relevance for parents, young people, researchers and policy makers.

This title was first published in 2000: This text provides international perspectives on examples of best practice in child welfare and proposes organizational structures and policies to support this practice. Practice innovations span the range of child welfare services, including prevention, protection and out-of-family care. The contributors describe the child welfare context in each of their particular jurisdictions, producing an addition to the literature comparing child welfare in different countries. Moreover, existing books on the subject are primarily descriptive and examine overall child welfare legislation and policy. The work adopts an analytical approach, proposing policies and focusing on the largely unexamined topic of excellence in child welfare practice.

Why have the minutiae of how parents raise their children become routine sources of public debate and policy making? This book provides in-depth answers to these features drawing on a wide range of sources from sociology, history, anthropology and psychology, covering developments in both Europe and North America.

This unique and groundbreaking book seeks to re-focus gender debate onto the issue of daughter discrimination - a phenomenon still hidden and unacknowledged across the world.
It asks the controversial question of why millions of girls do not appear to be surviving to adulthood in contemporary Asia. In the first major study available of this emotive and sensitive issue, Elisabeth Croll investigates the extent of discrimination against female children in Asia and shifts the focus of attention firmly from son-preference to daughter-discrimination.
This book brings together demographic data and anthropological field studies to reveal the multiple ways in which girls are disadvantaged, from excessive child mortality to the withholding of health care and education on the basis of gender. Focusing especially on China and India, the book reveals the surprising coincidence of increasing daughter discrimination with rising economic development, declining fertility and the generally improved status of women in East and South Asia. Essential reading for all those interested in gender in contemporary society.
Case studies include:
* China
* Republic of Korea
* Taiwan
* Vietnam
* India
* Pakistan
* Bangladesh

The increasing number of 'missing girls' in much of South and East Asia provides the disturbing focus this key title. It is unique in it's positive attention to daughter discrimination in these regions, as opposed to the large body of existing literature which analyses preference for sons.
The complete story of these 'missing' daughters is assembled here for the first time from a range of material, most of it published elsewhere, assigning the book both originality and lasting value.
Endangered Daughters draws from two main channels of research:
a) demographic data looking at
* sex ratio's at birth
* excessive female infant and child mortality
* other forms of girlhood disadvantage
b) anthropological field studies articulating
* gendered values attached to children
* ideal family size
* ideal family composition
* gender roles within families Case studies include:
* China
* Republic of Korea
* Taiwan
* Vietnam
* India
* Pakistan
* Bangladesh.

First published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

With major changes in the age and character of children being adopted, the issues surrounding adoption have grown in complexity.  As increasing numbers of older children and children with histories of abuse, neglect and rejection are being placed for adoption, their developmental needs and the demands they make on parents and post-adoption services is considerable.

David Howe's authoritative book explores and explains current understandings of adopted children's social, behavioural and personality development.  It analyses the wide range of research and theoretical perspectives available on adoption and identities the major patterns and theories arising. The book introduces the reader to the full range of knowledge and understanding on the development of adopted children. Case examples and illustrations are used throughout to give an immediate and lively feel to the information presented.

"When I was young I wanted to be a geologist, you know, dinosaurs and stuff. But as I got older I became aware of my being in a wheel char and it dawned on me it wouldn't be possible."

This quotation from a disabled student interviewed for this book graphically illustrates how disabled boys and girls experience their childhood differently from most children. The challenge for those working with disabled children and young people is to enable them to negotiate their childhood successfully, and to help them in a world which may crush their hopes and dreams, confront them with barriers and prejudices, and exclude, bully or abuse them because of their difference.

Thinking inclusively means designing services to meet the needs of all children, not just those who are able bodied. Placing the experiences of disabled children at the heart of service planning will create high quality provision for all service users, addressing key issues such as communication, family support, protection, confidence in services, advocacy, children's rights and anti-oppressive practice.

Key features:
draws on disabled young people's own accounts of their childhood
describes their experiences of the health, education and welfare systems
offers explanations for continued prejudice against disabled people in an age of equal opportunity
assists professionals and organisations to understand and dismantle discriminatory practices
makes suggestions for more inclusive provision

Written by a leading authority in the field, this book is a valuable text for childcare professionals in all sectors as well as anyone with an interest in promoting social justice.

Children bereaved by the death of one parent at the hands of the other, almost always the father, in effect lose both parents. The children are then uprooted, losing their home and, quite often, their familiar routine and essential relationships. The combined effects of trauma, dislocation and loss are dramatic, but little has been written so far about such tragedies and the implications for everyone concerned in the future of affected children. The authors of "When Father Kills Mother" all have special experience of treating such children. They discuss the importance of debriefing children immediately after they have witnessed violence and indicate what therapeutic help will be of most value to both the children and their carers. They examine the legal aspect of the tragedy, not only the civil rights of children and their role as witnesses, but the role of social workers, guardians and courts as decision-makers for the children. Difficult practical problems are all considered from the children's point of view as the authors seek answers to such questions as: where should the children live?; how should their future be planned?; and should they see their fathers in prison?

Between 1960 and 1962 over 14,000 children were sent out of Cuba alone by desperate parents who feared for their children's future under Castro. Yvonne M. Conde, herself a Pedro Pan child, has recorded hundreds of their diverse stories and experiences from American foster homes and orphanages. These children and their families have opened up to her like never before to share their feelings about this painful time in their lives. This book investigates the events and key figures surrounding the exodus, including the roles of the Catholic church and the State Department, and the extent of the CIA's involvement.

Parenting: What Really Counts? examines the scientific evidence on what really matters for children's healthy psychological development.
The first section considers whether it is necessary to have two parents, a father present, parents who have a genetic link with their child, or parents who are heterosexual. Section two explores the psychological processes that underlie optimal development for children, particularly the quality of the child's relationship with parents, other family members and the wider social world. Contrary to common assumptions, Susan Golombok concludes that family structure makes little difference to children's day-to-day experiences of life.

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This book celebrates good practice in the area of early years and special needs by bringing together authors who are either practitioners or researchers, from a range of different and diverse early years settings including nurseries and units providing special provision. They describe their work with young children who have different and distinctive special needs and disabilities.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203134427

Children bereaved by the death of one parent at the hands of the other, almost always the father, in effect lose both parents, and are often forgotten in the midst of such dramatic situations. Reflecting the increased interest in child protection and child law systems, this second edition of When Father Kills Mother brings to public knowledge, in amplified form information about the effects of psychological trauma and bereavement on children. By combining knowledge about bereavement with that of post-traumatic stress disorder, the book remains informative and essential reading for all those involved in the field, both professionally and personally.

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