This chapter draws upon 14 years of related ethnographic studies to uncover the principal features that characterize family life among the poor. Experiences dealing with multiple agencies are discussed, as well as experiences dealing with health problems in the context of the U.S. medical care system, and the aftermaths of household emergencies. 34 references.
This chapter reviews how theorists and policymakers portray the state’s capacity to alter the behavior and beliefs of low income parents and then highlights findings from a study of two women’s experiences in their efforts to find jobs and supportive resources. Finding a job and securing welfare supports were linked to their parenting pathway, however, the mothers’ first concern was their children’s well-being. The chapter concludes by exploring whether the motivating power of raising children might lead to a more effective family policy. 34 references. (Author abstract modified)
Other
Part of a series of brochures on parenting, this brochure is designed to assist Pennsylvania parents who are in recovery from drug or alcohol abuse. It begins by urging parents to understand that change is frightening, conflict between recovery needs and the needs of the family may surface, partners and children need to recover too, children often blame themselves for addictions or relapses, and a new family is being created. Tips are provided for using what has been learned in recovery to be a better parent, and for using self-talk to change feelings and behavior.
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Part of a series on parenting for parents in Pennsylvania, this brochure explains how parents with mental illnesses can become the best parents they can be. It urges parents to learn as much as they can about their illness, take care of themselves, follow their treatment plan, find out what their rights as a mental health services consumer are, get support from others, help their children learn about their illness, talk about emotions with their child and get counseling for them if they need it, provide a stable and consistent home, play with their children, avoid giving children adult roles…
Want to know the secret to making sure your child feels loved? Kids desperately need to know how much you love them. But if you don't know their special "love languages" you might as well be speaking gibberish. Every child (like every adult) expresses and receives love best through one of five communication styles. Find out which one of these your child speaks:* QUALITY TIME * WORDS OF AFFIRMATION * GIFTS * ACTS OF SERVICE * PHYSICAL TOUCHIf your love language is different from your children's, you'd better learn to translate-- fast. Or you could miss your chance to meet their deepest…
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This CD-ROM contains information on how strategies presented in the Parenting Wisely series are successfully implemented. Parenting Wisely (PW) is a self-administered, computer-based program that teaches parents and their children important skills to enhance relationships and decrease conflict through behavior management and support. The program is designed to improve child adjustment and has the potential to reduce delinquency, substance abuse, and involvement with the juvenile justice system. The program uses an interactive CD-ROM in which parents view video scenes of common family problems…
Training Materials, Other
This 33-minute DVD presentation is drawn from the Developing Positive Parental Influences parent training component of the Creating Lasting Family Connections Curriculum (CLFC), a curriculum for promoting the healthy development of youth at risk for alcohol and other drug abuse. It features an exercise that illustrates the early excitatory, depressant, and rebound stages that occur during a single episode of acute alcohol intoxication. Designed for parents, it illustrates the risk associated with drinking games, birthday alcohol bashes, and binge drinking episodes. Strategies for avoiding the…
Training Materials, Other
This 33-minute DVD is part of the Developing Positive Parental Influences parent training component of the Creating Lasting Family Connections Curriculum, a curriculum for promoting the healthy development of youth at risk for alcohol and other drug abuse. It discusses how adult language and beliefs about alcohol and other drugs impact children's choices to use them, and illustrates how and why practicing, promoting, and discussing natural, non-chemical means of experiencing pleasure are important tools for parents to use with their children. A card is also included that explains the CLFC…
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Journal Article Prenatal parenting attitudes and parenting behaviors during infancy and early childhood were used as predictors of attachment in children of adolescent mothers at ages 1 and 5. Seventy-eight adolescent mother - child dyads participated. Data were collected at five time points from the third trimester of pregnancy through the children's 5th year. A high percentage of children exhibited disorganized and insecure attachment during both infancy and early childhood; only 30% were securely attached at 1 year and 41% at 5 years. Quality of maternal interactions and cognitive readiness to parent…
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Journal Article Based on adolescent mothers' reports, longitudinal patterns of involvement of young, unmarried biological fathers (n = 77) in teenage-mother families using cluster analytic techniques were examined. Approximately one third of fathers maintained high levels of involvement over time, another third demonstrated low involvement at both time points, and the final third started out highly involved at Wave 1 but decreased to low levels of involvement by Wave 2. Multinomial logistic analyses suggest that mothers' positive relationships with both the father and his family predict a greater likelihood…
