Sex is bad. Unprotected sex is a problem. Having a baby would be a disaster. Abortion is a sin. Teenagers in the United States hear conflicting messages about sex from everyone around them. How do teens understand these messages? In Mixed Messages, Stefanie Mollborn examines how social norms and social control work through in-depth interviews with college students and teen mothers and fathers, revealing the tough conversations teeangers just can't have with adults. Delving into teenagers' complicated social worlds Mollborn argues that by creating informal social sanctions like gossip and exclusion and formal communication such as sex education, families, peers, schools, and communities strategize to gain control over teens' behaviors. However, while teens strategize to keep control, they resist the constraints of the norms, revealing the variety of outcomes that occur beyond compliance or deviance. By proving that the norms existing today around teen sex are ineffective, failing to regulate sexual behavior, and instead punishing teens that violate them, Mollborn calls for a more thoughtful and consistent dialogue between teens and adults, emphasizing messages that will lead to more positive health outcomes.

'This 'must read' volume will challenge every researcher to re-examine their assumptions and approach to research with families. Munford and Sanders emphasise the positive contribution research can make through the development of an inclusive research process. Their model extends the principles of the action research method by emphasising the contribution of families at each stage of the research, and dissemination of results through an easily assessable 'range of research products'. The thought-provoking case studies articulate the strengths and realities of applying their model in a wide variety of settings in different countries.' - Angeline Barretta-Herman, Professor of Social Work, University of St Thomas'This book tackles the hard issues which are becoming of vital importance for all researchers. How our research can make a difference to research participants and our communities, and also satisfy the needs of other players, are some of the difficult questions this book addresses. The book's direct approach, and its inclusion of work from around the globe, make it widely applicable.' - Professor Jan Fook, La Trobe UniversityDoing research with families poses particular challenges in social work and welfare. The families are generally clients of social services, and can be in a vulnerable position. Also, it is important that family research contributes to improving practice in clinical and community work.Making a Difference in Families discusses key approaches to research with families, including action research, focus groups and participant observation. Contributors explore both qualitative and quantitative methods, and examine ways in which researchers can involve participants in the research process. Detailed case studies are provided of research in a variety of settings, and with different kinds of family situations.

From the headlines of local newspapers to the coverage of major media outlets, scenes of war, natural disaster, political revolution and ethnic repression greet readers and viewers at every turn. What we often fail to grasp, however, despite numerous treatments of events is the deep meaning and broader significance of crisis and disaster. The complexity and texture of these situations are most evident in the broader personal stories of those whom the events impact most intimately. Oral history, with its focus on listening and collaborative creation with participants, has emerged as a forceful approach to exploring the human experience of crisis. Despite the recent growth of crisis oral history fieldwork, there has been little formal discussion of the process and meaning of utilizing oral history in these environments. Oral history research takes on special dimensions when working in highly charged situations often in close proximity to traumatic events. The emergent inclination for oral historians to respond to document crisis calls for a shared conversation among scholars as to what we have learned from crisis work so far. This dialogue, at the heart of this collection of oral history excerpts and essays, reveals new layers of the work of the oral historian. From the perspective of crisis and disaster oral history, the book addresses both the ways in which we think about the craft of oral hsitory, and the manner in which we use it. The book presents excerpts from oral histories done after twelve world crises, followed by critical analyses by the interviewers. Additional analytical chapters set the interviews in the contexts of pyschoanalysis and oral history methodology.

For the vast majority of human existence we did without the idea of race. Since its inception a mere few hundred years ago, and despite the voluminous documentation of the problems associated with living within the racial worldview, we have come to act as if race is something we cannot live without. The arc of a bad idea: Understanding and transcending race presents a penetrating, provocative, and promising analysis of and alternative to the hegemonic racial worldview. How race came about, how it evolved into a natural-seeming aspect of human identity, and how racialization, as a habit of the mind, can be broken is presented through the unique and corrective framing of race as a time-bound (versus eternal) concept, the lifespan of which is traceable and the demise of which is predictable. The narratives of individuals who do not subscribe to racial identity despite be ascribed to the black/African American racial category are presented as clear and compelling illustrations of how a non-racial identity and worldview is possible and arguably preferable to the status quo. Our view of and approach to race (in theory, pedagogy, and policy) is so firmly ensconced in a sense of it as inescapable and indispensible that we are in effect shackled to the lethal absurdity we seek to escape. Theorist, teachers, policy-makers and anyone who seeks a transformative perspective on race and racial identity will be challenged, enriched, and empowered by this refreshing treatment of one of our most confounding and consequential dilemmas.

Keeping doctors happy and productive requires a thorough understanding of the systemic causes and consequences of physician stress, as well as the role of resilience in maintaining a healthy mental state. The pressure of making life-or-death decisions along with those associated with the day-to-day challenges of doctoring can lead to poor patient care and communication, patient dissatisfaction, absenteeism, reductions in productivity, job dissatisfaction, and lowered retention. This edited volume will provide a comprehensive tool for understanding and promoting physician stress resilience. Specifically, the book has six interrelated objectives that, collectively, would advance the evidence-based understanding of (1) the extent to which physicians experience and suffer from work-related stress; (2) the various manifestations, syndromes, and reaction patterns directly caused by work-related stress; (3) the degree to which physicians are resilient in that they are successful or not successful in coping with these stressors; (4) the theories and direct evidence that account for the resilience; (5) the programs during and following medical school which help to promote resilience; and (6) the agenda for future theory, research, and intervention efforts for the next generation of physicians.

Managing community practice offers a comprehensive guide to a range of models and practices essential for the management of community-based practice. Fully updated, this second edition of a bestselling book takes account of the latest developments in community policy and practice. It places the management of community practice in the context of increasing pressures of economic austerity and trends towards community self-help and co-production of policies and services. Two brand new chapters cover community-led research and sustaining community practice for the future. Based on contributions from internationally recognised authors, the book offers a unique blend of theoretical models and practice guidance, including:an historical review of community practice in the UK; the organisational implications of managing community practice; ethical challenges in negotiating power and responsibility; the significance of networks in the context of partnership working; the manager's role in supporting community-led research; the importance of participative planning and evaluation.The book is an invaluable resource for operational and strategic managers in local government, community development, health, housing and other service delivery agencies with a focus on community participation and engagement. It is essential reading for tutors and students on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses concerned with community development, community-oriented practice and social action.

While much has been written about the problematic behaviour of young people and their families, there has been silence on the problem of young people behaving abusively towards their parents, which may take the form of physical, economic and/or emotional abuse. This is the first academic book to focus on adolescent-to-parent abuse and brings together international research and practice literature and combines it with original research to identify and critique current understandings in research, policy and practice. It discusses what we know about parents' experiences of adolescent-to-parent abuse and critically examines how it has been explained from psychological, sociological and sociocultural perspectives. It also outlines how policymakers and practitioners can usefully respond to the problem. This unique book adopts a range of theoretical and practice perspectives. Written in an accessible style, it is an essential tool for academics, policymakers and professionals with an interest in domestic violence, child protection and youth offending.

In A Path Unexpected, Evans shares her life, working as a journalist in the big city, then moving to the small town of Viljoenskroon in the northern Free State with her husband, Anthony Evans, a well-known and respected businessman and farmer. It is here that she created her non-profit organisation to provide education and training for the wives and children of farm labourers during the height of apartheid. Her profound influence on these families labels her as an activist for her early childhood development (ECD) and adult teaching advocacy in rural communities.

This memoir is about family, love, loss, finding purpose and dedicating oneself to a life of service.

Eloquently written and told with great sensitivity and humility, this is a memoir about how one woman’s unexpected path led to family-like bonds in the unlikeliest of places, and a dream so profound that it would impact generations of young learners and the women who teach them.

This book develops the understanding of recovery and aims to inspire professionals working with people with long-term mental health problems, their carers, and most importantly the service users themselves. There are two parts of this book. The first considers the contribution people like Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln have made to society and how they could be considered to be mental health recovery heroes and how their lives were shaped and in fact enhanced by their mental illnesses. The second provides narratives from 15 contemporary recovery heroes who have lived experience of mental health problems. Each has contributed to our developing understanding of recovery and each has made a unique contribution to the field. This book aims to inspire readers by offering brief accounts of past and present recovery heroes. Vital information for: carers, practitioners, students, academics, service providers, service users

The first one thousand days of human life, or the period between conception and age two, is one of the most pivotal periods of human development. Optimizing nutrition during this time not only prevents childhood malnutrition but also determines future health and potential. The Politics of Potential examines early life interventions in the first one thousand days of life in South Africa, drawing on fieldwork from international conferences, government offices, health-care facilities, and the everyday lives of fifteen women and their families in Cape Town.

Michelle Pentecost explores various aspects of a politics of potential, a term that underlines the first one thousand days concept and its effects on clinical care and the lives of childbearing women in South Africa. Why was the First One Thousand Days project so readily adopted by South Africa and many other countries? Pentecost not only explores this question but also discusses the science of intergenerational transmissions of health, disease, and human capital and how this constitutes new forms of intergenerational responsibility.

The women who are the target of first one thousdand days interventions are cast as both vulnerable and responsible for the health of future generations, such that, despite its history, intergenerational responsibility in South Africa remains entrenched in powerfully gendered and racialized ways.

What if the idealized image of American society-a land of opportunity that will reward hard work with economic success-is completely wrong? Few topics have as many myths, stereotypes, and misperceptions surrounding them as that of poverty in America. The poor have been badly misunderstood since the beginnings of the country, with the rhetoric only ratcheting up in recent times. Our current era of fake news, alternative facts, and media partisanship has led to a breeding ground for all types of myths and misinformation to gain traction and legitimacy. Poorly Understood is the first book to systematically address and confront many of the most widespread myths pertaining to poverty. Mark Robert Rank, Lawrence M. Eppard, and Heather E. Bullock powerfully demonstrate that the realities of poverty are much different than the myths; indeed in many ways they are more disturbing. The idealized image of American society is one of abundant opportunities, with hard work being rewarded by economic prosperity. But what if this picture is wrong? What if poverty is an experience that touches the majority of Americans? What if hard work does not necessarily lead to economic well-being? What if the reasons for poverty are largely beyond the control of individuals? And if all of the evidence necessary to disprove these myths has been readily available for years, why do they remain so stubbornly pervasive? These are much more disturbing realities to consider because they call into question the very core of America's identity. Armed with the latest research, Poorly Understood not only challenges the myths of poverty and inequality, but it explains why these myths continue to exist, providing an innovative blueprint for how the nation can move forward to effectively alleviate American poverty.

Teen drug use is a critical and timely health issue that deeply affects adolescent development in a number of important areas, including social, cognitive, and affective functioning, as well as long-term health and wellbeing. Trends indicate that drug use is starting at an earlier age, the potency of several drugs is much stronger than in the past, and more new drugs are illegally being manufactured to provide faster, heightened effects. In addition, illegal use of prescription drugs and drug diversion or the sharing of prescription medication is also on the rise amongst teens. Parenting and Teen Drug Use provides comprehensive coverage of the most current research on youth drug use and prevention, carefully and meticulously presenting empirical evidence and theoretical arguments that underlie the mechanisms linking parental socialization and adolescent drug use. Written by leading experts, chapters examine the causes and consequences of drug use, the myriad ways to prevent it, and the latest findings from the prevention research community regarding what works, with a specific emphasis on parenting techniques that have shown the most promise for reducing or preventing drug use in teens. Parenting and Teen Drug Use will provide valuable insight to a wide audience of clinicians, treatment providers, school counselors, prevention experts, social workers, physicians, substance abuse counselors, students, and those who work with youth on a day-to-day basis to influence positive youth adaptation.

The first year of practice can be a particularly daunting and challenging time for newly-qualified social workers (NQSWs). This fully revised and updated book directly addresses the crucial transition period between finishing off the social work degree and managing the first years of practice. It offers down to earth, practical guidance on applying for your first post and managing your work load in the first few years. From useful sections on the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE), supervision, dealing with conflict, court skills, report writing, and team work to what professionalism actually looks like in practice, this book will throw a life belt to not only NQSWs entering the workplace but for students on qualifying programmes who wish to develop their skills beyond graduation.