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Learning From Difference: Comparing Child Welfare Systems, Rachael Hetherington

Partnerships for Children and Families Project

Child welfare and child protection are integral aspects of the welfare regimes of all post-industrial societies. However, although the needs of children and the dangers of child abuse are so widely acknowledged, the ways in which these needs and risks are met varies considerably, even between countries with similar structures. By studying the ways in which other countries deal with similar problems, we can learn about new ways of responding and may find ideas that we can adapt for use in our own context. But we can do much more than this. By looking at differences, and using the power …

Maori Perspectives On Collaboration And Colonisation In Contemporary Aotearoa/New Zealand Child And Family Welfare Policies And Practices, Catherine Love

Partnerships for Children and Families Project

Colonization involves the appropriation and disfigurement of resources, the most valuable of these being people. In Aotearoa/New Zealand, indigenous Maori experiences of colonization parallel those of indigenous peoples around the world. The British modelled child welfare system in particular has been held responsible for the fragmentation of Maori families/whanau and communities. In 1989, new legislation was heralded as a radical departure from the previous legalistic, coercive and punitive system. The ‘Children, Young Person’s and their Families Act’ (CYP&F, 1989) signalled a partnership approach whereby Western welfare authorities and indigenous Maori communities would collaborate to protect ‘the best interests of the …

Problems And Potential For Canadian Child Welfare, K. Swift, M. Callahan

Partnerships for Children and Families Project

Canadian child welfare is not one single system, but more than 13 systems overseen by provincial and territorial governments and First Nations jurisdictions. However, there are many similarities among systems and general trends and directions common to them. One of these is a tendency for child welfare to become isolated from communities and related services because of its increasingly complex legislation and investigative mandates (Swift, 2001). Another is the challenge of serving peoples of diverse cultural and racial backgrounds, including First Nations peoples. Of course, each jurisdiction also responds to its particular social and political context in unique ways. In …

Promoting Change From ‘Child Protection’ To ‘Child And Family Welfare’: The Problems Of The English System, Rachael Hetherington, Tracey Nurse

Partnerships for Children and Families Project

In England, the system for children and families in need of state intervention has developed in response to a series of political changes and to high profile and highly publicised child welfare ‘cases’. This has led over the past 20 years to a focus on child protection as the most important aspect of the work. For the last 5-8 years, attempts have been made at many levels to redress this imbalance and put more emphasis on family support. However, there are barriers to change, in the existing structures, in the distribution of resources and in anxieties about public responses to …

Perceived Effects Of Voluntarism On Marital Life In Late Adulthood, Liat Kulik

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The article presents a study dealing with the perceived effects of voluntarism on marital life in late adulthood among a sample of 595 Israelis (336 men and 259 women). These perceptions were examined from three perspectives: benefits, spousal accommodation, and harmful effects. Comparisons focused on different types of families, based on employment status (pre-retired versus retired) and actual volunteer activity (volunteer versus non-volunteer). The findings revealed that among all types of families, the prevailing tendency was to emphasize the beneficial effects of voluntarism on marital life, whereas perceived harmful effects were least prevalent. Synchronous families (both partners pre-retired) and asynchronous …

Child Support Payment And Child Visitation: Perspectives From Nonresident Fathers And Resident Mothers, Stacey R. Bloomer, Theresa Ann Sipe, Danielle E. Ruedt

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the child support and visitation perspectives of nonresidential fathers and custodial mothers. The focus of the study was to present definitions of child support from both noncustodial fathers and custodial mothers, the barriers they experience that prevent child support and visitation, and suggestions the parents have for improvements in the child support system. The data suggest that although nonresidential fathers and custodial mothers have similar definitions of what characteristicsd efine child support, they have vastly different views of what barriers prevent child support and visitation. Interparental hostility appeared to shape their …

Review Of Social Policy And Policymaking By The Branches Of Government And The Public-At-Large. Theodore J. Stein. Review By Diana M. Dinitto., Diana M. Dinitto

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Theodore J. Stein, Social Policy and Policymaking by the Branches of Government and the Public-at-Large. New York: Columbia University Press, 2001. $49.50 hardcover.

Review Of The Color Of Opportunity: Pathways To Family Welfare And Work. Haya Stier And Marta Tienda. Review By Eric Swank., Eric Swank

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Haya Steir and Marta Tienda. The Color of Opportunity: Pathways to Family, Welfare, and Work. University of Chicago Press, 2001. $32.50 hardcover.

Working Families: The Transformation Of The American Home. Rosanna Herta And Nancy L. Marshall (Eds.).

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Rosanna Herta and Nancy L. Marshall (Eds.), Working Families: The Transformation of the American Home. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2001. $ 50.00 hardcover, 19.95 papercover.

Review Of The Handbook Of Social Work Research Methods. Bruce A. Thyer (Ed.). Review By John G. Orme., John G. Orme

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Bruce A. Thyer (Ed.), The Handbook of Social Work Research Methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2001. $ 84.95 hardcover, $ 65.00 papercover.

The Clinical Irrelevance And Scientific Invalidity Of The "Minority" Notion: Deleting It From The Social Science Vocabulary, Doris Wilkinson

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

A systematic socio-linguistic and historical analysis of the minority label reveals its multiple irregularities and imperfections. These encompass a misleading array of vastly dissimilar nationality or group designations and the erroneous comparison of behaviors and life styles with racial status. As it is currently applied in U.S. political culture and in a variety of disciplines including sociology and social work, the concept has virtually no substantive meaning nor reality-linked usefulness. A thorough appraisal of the consequences of the perpetual reliance on the notion demonstrates that it eradicates ethnic cultural diversity and ignores historical antecedents and the "lived" experiences of oppressed …

Disempowering Minorities: A Critique Of Wilkinson's 'Task For Social Scientists And Practitioners', Mitch Berbrier

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

In this article, I examine Wilkinson's (2000) injunction that practitioners "omit entirely the 'minority' concept" (pp. 124-25). I maintain that Wilkinson's argument disempowers groups-such as gays and the disabledwho have used a "minority" identity effectively, and speciously indicates that African-Americans would benefit from such retrenchment, thereby implying that social justice is a zero-sum game. Rather, "minority" coalitions are effectively pursuing justice for all. Moreover, Wilkinson's deconstruction of "minority" conflates conceptual breadth with conceptual vagueness, and conveniently ignores (or denies) the socially constructed character of "race" and "ethnicity." I suggest that practitioners learn more about the historical development of all of …

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 29, No. 2 (June 2002)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• DISEMPOWERING MINORITIES: A CRITIQUE OF WILKINSON'S 'TASK FOR SOCIAL SCIENTISTS AND PRACTITIONERS' - Mitch Berbrier
• THE CLINICAL IRRELEVANCE AND SCIENTIFIC INVALIDITY OF THE "MINORITY" NOTION: DELETING IT FROM THE SOCIAL SCIENCE VOCABULARY - Doris Wilkinson
• PERCEIVED EFFECTS OF VOLUNTARISM ON MARITAL LIFE IN LATE ADULTHOOD - Liat Kulik
• WILL CHURCHES RESPOND TO THE CALL? RELIGION, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, AND SOCIAL SERVICE - Emily A. Leventhal and Daniel P. Mears
• CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT AND CHILD VISITATION: PERSPECTIVES FROM NONRESIDENT FATHERS AND RESIDENT MOTHERS - Stacey R. Bloomer, Theresa Ann Sipe, and Danielle E. Ruedt
• SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK IN HARTFORD, …

Will Churches Respond To The Call? Religion, Civic Responsibility, And Social Service, Emily A. Leventhal, Daniel P. Mears

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Despite national calls for churches to become more involved in social service, many churches may not be willing or able to respond. Drawing on sociological theory, previous research, and interviews with pastors and parish social ministers from Catholic congregations in a large, urban city in Texas, we examine key factors linked to church-based social service efforts. Particulara ttention is given to church leadership,r ace/ethnicity,o rganizational characteristics, social and political networks, and the intersection of these factors in affecting service provision and advocacy. We then discuss the likely impacts of policies calling for religious organizations to increase their social service activities.

School Social Work In Hartford, Connecticut: Correcting The Historical Record, James G. Mccullagh

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper corrects the historical record on why and how school social work began in Hartford and who was instrumental in establishing the new service. The findings, based on a study of primary sources, revealed that a school principal, and not a psychologist as previously claimed, initiated the process that led the Hartford Charity Organization Society to appoint its Visitor, Winifred Singleton Bivin, a social caseworker, to also become the first social worker in the schools in January 1907. The social work profession, which owes its origin to the Charity Organization Movement, is also obligated to the Hartford Charity Organization …

The Disease Model Of Alcoholism: A Kuhnian Paradigm, Brian E. Bride, Larry Nackerud

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Despite the fact that the disease model of alcoholism has lost its status as paradigm in international circles, the alcoholism research and treatment community in the United States maintains steadfast allegiance to the tenets of the disease model. The disease model and the related treatment goal of abstinence continue to overwhelmingly dominate the treatment of alcoholism in the U.S. Critics have suggested that financial and political motives have served to maintain the dominance of the disease model, despite findings that violate its basic tenets. This paper presents an alternative explanation of the reluctance of the alcoholism treatment community to relinquish …

When Social Program Responsibilities Trickle Down: Impacts Of Devolution On Local Human Services Provision, Steven G. Anderson, Anthony Halter, Brian Gryzlak

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) shifted responsibility for public assistance from the federal government to the states. This study examined early impacts of this devolution and related program reductions on local service authorities in Illinois. Based on surveys from 101 large townships responsible for administering General Assistance, medical assistance, and emergency needs programs, we found that 60 percent of these localities experienced increased service demands. These demands not only placed pressure on limited local programming funds, but also transformed local service populations in subtle and unintended ways. Reports of bureaucratic mistreatment and confusion also …

Review Of Welfare And Employment In A United Europe. Giuseppe Bertola, Tito Boeri And Giuseppe Nicoleti (Eds.). Review By Martin Evans., Martin Evans

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Giuseppe Bertola, Tito Boeri and Giuseppe Nicoleti (Eds.), Welfare and Employment in a United Europe. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press 2001. $32.95

Review Of Building Community Capacity. Robert J. Chaskin, Prudence Brown, Sudhir Venkatesh And Avis Vidal. Review By Michelle Livermore., Michelle Livermore

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Robert J. Chaskin, Prudence Brown, Sudhir Venkatesh, and Avis Vidal, Building Community Capacity. Hathorne, NY: Aldine d Gruyter, 2001. $ 25.95 papercover.

Social Inclusion: Possibilities And Tensions. Peter Askonas And Angus Stewart (Eds.).

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Peter Askonas and Angus Stewart (Eds.). Social Inclusion: Possibilities and Tensions. New York: Palgrave, 2000. $ 69.95 hardcover.

Advocacy In The Human Services. Mark Ezell.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Mark Ezell, Advocacy in the Human Services. Belmont, CA: Brooks/ Cole, 2001. $ 43.50 paperback.

Challenges To Equality: Poverty And Race In America. Chester Hartman (Ed.).

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Chester Hartman (Ed.), Challenges to Equality: Poverty and Race in America. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2001. $ 68.95 hardcover, $ 26.95 papercover.

An Offer You Can't Refuse: Workforce In International Perspective. Ivar Lodemal And Heather Trickey (Eds.).

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Ivar Lodemal and Heather Trickey (Eds.), An Offer you Can't Refuse: Workfare in International Perspective. Bristol: Policy Press, 2001. $ 32.50.

Sustaining The New Economy: Work, Family And Community In The Information Age. Martin Carnoy.

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for Martin Carnoy, Sustaining the New Economy: Work, Family and Community in the Information Age. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2000. $39.95 hardcover.

Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare Vol. 29, No. 1 (March 2002)

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SYMPOSIUM ON NATIVE AMERICAN WELLNESS

Guest Editors - Hilary N. Weaver & Maria Napoli

• PERSPECTIVES ON WELLNESS: JOURNEYS ON THE RED ROAD - Hilary N. Weaver
• NATIVE WELLNESS FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM: THE IMPACT OF GAMING - Maria Napoli
• O'ODHAM HIMDAG AS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND WELLNESS AMONG THE TOHONO O'ODHAM OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND NORTHERN SONORA, MEXICO - Teri Knutson Woods, Karen Blaine, and Lauri Francisco
• USING REASONS FOR LIVING TO CONNECT TO AMERICAN INDIAN HEALING TRADITIONS - Thomas L. Crofoot Graham
• ENVISIONING A HEALTHY FUTURE: A RE-BECOMING OF NATIVE AMERICAN MEN - Paul Rock …

The Hoop Of Learning: A Holistic, Multisystemic Model For Facilitating Educational Resilience Among Indigenous Students, Margaret A. Waller, Scott K. Okamoto, Ted Hibbeler, Patricia Hibbeler, Patricia Mcintyre, Roland Mcallen-Walker, Audrey A. Hankerson

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Indigenous communities in the United States have a wealth of cultural and social resources that can facilitate educational resilience among Native students. This article reviews the historical context, contemporary trends, and current challenges related to education of Indigenous students. The authors present an innovative middle school-to-high school-to-college bridge program as one example of many positive educational initiatives currently developing across the country.

Race, Welfare Reform, And Nonprofit Organizations, Michael Reisch, David Sommerfeld

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This article presents research on the impact of welfare reform on 90 nonprofit organizations in Southeast Michigan. Utilizing a refined survey instrument, in-depth interviews and focus groups with agency executives and staff, and the analysis of agency documents, it assesses how the racial characteristics of agencies' client populations affected the organizational consequences of welfare reform. The study confirmed that welfare reform has affected the ability of nonprofit organizations to meet the increased expectations generated by recent legislation. These effects have been particularly pronounced among agencies serving a high proportion of racial minority clients.

Review Of The Living Legacy Of Marx, Durkheim And Weber. Richard Altschuler (Ed.). Reviewed By Shana Cohen., Shana Cohen

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Richard Altschuler (Ed.), The Living Legacy of Marx, Durkheim and Weber. New York: Gordion Knot Books, 2000. (2 volumes at $39.95 each in paperback).

Review Of One Third Of A Nation: Lorena Hickok Reports On The Great Depression. Richard Lowitt And Maurine Beasley (Eds.). Review By John M. Herrick, John M. Herrick

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Richard Lowitt and Maurine Beasley (Eds.), One Third of a Nation: Lorena Hickok Reports on the Great Depression. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press, 2000. $21.95 papercover.

Review Of Social Security And Medicare: Individual Vs. Collective Risk And Responsibility. Sheila Burke, Eric Kingson And Uwe Reinhart (Eds.). Review By Rick Hoefer, Rick Hoefer

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book review of Sheila Burke, Eric Kingson and Uwe Reinhart (Eds.), Social Security and Medicare: Individual vs. Collective Risk and Responsibility. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press and National academy of Social Insurance, 2000. $20.95 papercover.