Enhancing the Well-being of Children and Families Through Effective Interventions : International Evidence for Practice

Current government policy is explicitly aimed at increasing opportunities for all children and improving the outcomes for our most vulnerable children.€A fundamental question asked by politicians, policy makers and professionals alike is what do we know about makes a difference? Which services help and in what circumstances? Which are valued by families? Are services effective for children with additional needs because of disability or ethnicity or other factors in their lives?€Answers to these questions are crucial to direct resources where they can bring about tangible improvements. Read more... Content: Cover -- Enhancing the Well-being of Children and Families through Effective Interventions: International Evidence for Practice -- Contents -- Foreword -- Preface -- PART ONE: Child Welfare in the UK and US -- 1. Effectiveness of Child Welfare Interventions -- 2. Child Welfare in the UK: Legislation, Policy and Practice -- 3. Child Welfare in the US: Legislation, Policy and Practice -- PART TWO: Evidence on Interventions with Vulnerable Children, Young People and Families -- 4. Early Interventions with Young Children and their Parents in the UK -- 5. Early Interventions with Young Children and their Parents in the US -- 6. Home Visiting for Parents of Pre-school Children in the UK -- 7. Home Visiting for Parents of Pre-school Children in the US -- 8. Support for Young People and their Families in the Community in the UK -- 9. Support for Young People and their Families in the Community in the US -- PART THREE: Evidence on Therapeutic Interventions with Children who have Experienced Abuse or Neglect -- 10. Therapeutic Interventions with Children who have Experienced Neglect and their Families in the UK -- 11. Therapeutic Interventions with Children who have Experienced Neglect and their Families in the US -- 12. Therapeutic Interventions with Children who have Experienced Sexual and Physical Abuse in the UK -- 13. Therapeutic Interventions with Children who have Experienced Sexual and Physical Abuse in the US -- PART FOUR: Evidence on Foster Care, Adoption and Transitions for Children and Young People -- 14. Foster Family Care in the UK -- 15. Foster Family Care in the US -- 16. Residential Care in the UK -- 17. Residential Care in the US -- 18. Support for Young People Leaving Care in the UK -- 19. Support for Young People Leaving Care in the US -- 20. Adoption in the UK -- 21. Adoption in the US -- PART FIVE: Innovative Approaches in Schools and Community Programmes -- 22. Interventions in Schools in the UK -- 23. Interventions in Schools in the US -- 24. Community Programmes in the UK -- 25. Community Programs in the US -- PART SIX: Summary and Conclusion -- 26. Effective Child Welfare Interventions: Evidence for Practice -- References -- The Contributors -- Subject Index -- Author Index -- Last Page. Abstract: Current government policy is explicitly aimed at increasing opportunities for all children and improving the outcomes for our most vulnerable children.€A fundamental question asked by politicians, policy makers and professionals alike is what do we know about makes a difference? Which services help and in what circumstances? Which are valued by families? Are services effective for children with additional needs because of disability or ethnicity or other factors in their lives?€Answers to these questions are crucial to direct resources where they can bring about tangible improvements Services for families and children are rightfully the focus of intense scrutiny and debate, and there is a clear need to establish a knowledge of which services work well. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of research evidence from the UK and USA on the effectiveness of selected child welfare interventions. It addresses the challenges of measuring effectiveness in child welfare and explains the policy context for child welfare service delivery. Leading international contributors summarize the evidence of effectiveness in each core area, and consider the impact on children's development, parenting capacity and the wider community. Critically, the book also draws out the implications of the evidence for policy, practice and service delivery as well as for future research. This book is essential reading for policy makers, practitioners and commissioners of services in child welfare as well as students and researchers. Family support is an increasingly important strategic approach to welfare services for children and families. This invaluable resource for all professionals engaged in the development and delivery of these services is underpinned by reflective practice values and structured around four themes:* conceptual frameworks and vocabulary (defining)* policy and organisational structures and processing (planning)* tools for creative practice (doing)* approaches to evaluation (measuring). Contributors from around the world provide international perspectives on core issues in family support. These include How do you respond simultaneously to the needs of adults experiencing domestic violence and the specific needs of their children? Domestic violence and child protection explores the challenges of working effectively in this complex field and offers positive models for practice. Leading practitioners and researchers outline the essential safety considerations for children, adult victims and child protection workers, and stress the importance of children's experiences, using children's own words to describe their diverse needs. The contributors offer examples of good practice in prevention This reader compares up-to-date policy and research evidence from the UK and USA on the effectiveness of core child welfare interventions. The text shows how knowledge of effective interventions can be used to improve assessment of needs, and planning and reviewing services to children and their families