Are young people blindly self-interested? How does university shape students' political participation? Can busy parents and grandparents find time to volunteer? Challenging conventional thinking, leading academics explore how individuals' relationships with civil society change over time as different lifecourse events and stages trigger and hinder civic engagement. Drawing on personal narratives, longitudinal cohort studies and national surveys, this unprecedented study considers rarely examined aspects of civic engagement including school students' sense of social responsibility and the charitable legacy bequests of elderly people and highlights significant implications for those promoting greater civic and political participation.

The relationship between the family and civil society has always been complex, with the family often regarded as separate from, or even oppositional to, civil society. Taking a fresh empirical approach, Muddiman, Power and Taylor reveal how such separation underestimates the important role the family plays in civil society. Considering the impact of family events, dinner table debates, intergenerational transmission of virtues and the role of the mother, this enlightening book draws on survey data from 1000 young people, a sample of their parents and grandparents, and extended family interviews, to uncover how civil engagement, activism and political participation are inherited and fostered within the home.

Are young people blindly self-interested? How does university shape students' political participation? Can busy parents and grandparents find time to volunteer? Challenging conventional thinking, leading academics explore how individuals' relationships with civil society change over time as different lifecourse events and stages trigger and hinder civic engagement. Drawing on personal narratives, longitudinal cohort studies and national surveys, this unprecedented study considers rarely examined aspects of civic engagement including school students' sense of social responsibility and the charitable legacy bequests of elderly people and highlights significant implications for those promoting greater civic and political participation.

The relationship between the family and civil society has always been complex, with the family often regarded as separate from, or even oppositional to, civil society. Taking a fresh empirical approach, Muddiman, Power and Taylor reveal how such separation underestimates the important role the family plays in civil society. Considering the impact of family events, dinner table debates, intergenerational transmission of virtues and the role of the mother, this enlightening book draws on survey data from 1000 young people, a sample of their parents and grandparents, and extended family interviews, to uncover how civil engagement, activism and political participation are inherited and fostered within the home.

Despite an uncelebrated birth, abandonment by her father, and an abusive, alcoholic husband, Jean Yanakos STILL knew God had a purpose and a plan for her life - to give her a future and a hope. When God gave her a clear word of His purpose for her life - "to teach, to preach, and to heal" - she was baffled How could He accomplish that through a woman who was uneducated and without funds for education with an alcoholic husband and two small children to raise? Now, eighty-nine years young, Jean's life is a testimony to God's faithfulness. With transparent candor, Jean recounts her memoires - significant events that have impacted and transformed her remarkable Christian journey. God has steadfastly walked with her, and by His Grace, Jean has gone the distance and she is indeed finishing strong If He did it for her, can He not do the same for you? Sally Power is a teacher and has taught Deaf and Hard of Hearing students for over 35 years. She provides sign language interpretation at Northway Christian Community, where she attends with Jean Yanakos. As one who has received much from Jean's mentoring and teaching, Sally was honored to compile Jean's memoires from journals, recordings, and extended conversations. Sally is the president and founder of Treasure House Fashions, a nonprofit corporation for women in transition and/or need. She is blessed and proud of her three grown children: Nathan, Stephanie, and Chad. Sally is a public speaker and novice writer.

An increasing number of families are becoming homeless, often as a result of domestic violence, which leaves women and their school age children without homes. This multidisciplinary volume is the first to look at the variety of problems encountered by this group and to propose strategies for managing those problems. The contributors to this book provide evidence that homeless children often have more acute problems and needs than other children; as a result of the insecurity of their situation, they may experience physical health problems and developmental delay. They are also at high risk of emotional and behavioral difficulties such as sleep disturbance, eating problems, aggression, over-activity, anxiety, depression and self-harm. At the same time, due to their unstable situation, they are less able to access support from the health, education and social services. Homeless Children is divided into two parts. Part I defines the specific problems and needs of homeless children, and draws up practical guidelines for staff and agencies on recognizing and dealing with those problems. Part II looks at policy and service development for homeless families in education, health and social care, and concludes that conventional methods of provision have to be adapted to meet the specific needs of this vulnerable group.