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.

Family law and public policy reflect our society’s evolving social commitments and ethical norms and behaviors, making it a key area of study in the fields of sociology, psychology, gender studies, criminology, mediation, social work, and many others. Family Law and Public Policy combines pertinent, concise, up-to-date information on family law as it forms and is informed by public policy on such central issues as the care, protection, and social and economic support of children; the nature, formation, and dissolution of marriage and other adult relationships; and surrogacy and adoption. Using three formats—succinct explanations; engaging, relevant readings from articles, statutes, and case law; and provocative questions prompting students to more deeply examine, understand, and critique the topics—Family Law and Public Policy covers all traditional and developing areas of family law and includes background and pointers on affecting, creating, and writing policy.

The premise of this book is that 400 million childrenone in five children aliveare abused and neglected in ways that could affect their entire lives, and that greater progress in protecting those children is both urgent and possible. The book reviews the long history of child maltreatment from prehistoric times to the present, contrasting statements about precious, innocent children with the realities of child maltreatment around the world. Child protection is defined using the sixteen categories of maltreatment from the work of the United Nations Childrens Fund. The roles of the major players in global child protection are described, noting that this field is a small part of the broader arenas of foreign aid and foreign policy. The book discusses the difficult question of what causes child maltreatment, reviewing poverty, religious and cultural practices, gender inequity and other forms of discrimination, parental addictions, and war and its aftermath. Ten specific responses to child maltreatment are proposed, aiming at reducing the fragmentation and increasing the effectiveness of child protection programs. A critique is included on recent responses of US agencies and international counterparts, with appendices on India and China as the countries with the greatest numbers of children.

This book chronicles the last thirty years of the Tulsa City-County Library—its triumphs, its challenges, its invaluable service to its communities, and its strong connection to the people. You'll find stories of heroism, of compassion, and of courage, illustrating not only the dedication that TCCL's people have to their work and to those who rely upon them, but also how the library system continually celebrates the diversity of its customers, supports intellectual and artistic freedom, serves as a bulwark against suppression and censorship, and deeply enriches the intellectual life of all the communities it serves.

Social Work Practice with Children and Families presents the framework for family health social work and its applications in various practice environments. This vital textbook provides a unique blend of academic deliberations and practical service guidelines with topics ranging from forensic social work and community practice to disability, child welfare, and HIV/AIDS. The book is organized into two major sections entitled Practice Interventions and Policy, Programs, and Emerging Families. Case examples or discussion questions are included at the end of each chapter to facilitate more in-depth understanding and discussion among graduate and undergraduate students, professors, and educators in health and human service areas. To view an excerpt online, find the book on our QuickSearch catalog at www.HaworthPress.com.

This book builds on the ideas that cities are people and our children are our future. It provides analyses of distinct, but interrelated, problems and profiles of local programs that address those problems.