November/December 2001Vol. 2, No. 6Print issueSpotlight on National Adoption Month

Both the House and Senate have approved bills appropriating funds for legislation related to child abuse and neglect, child welfare, and adoption. A conference committee comprising members of both Houses now will reconcile the two versions of the bill, H.R. 3061, which includes appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services.

The full House approved H.R. 3061 on October 11. The Senate approved its version, as amended, on November 6. Both versions would increase funding for the Safe and Stable Families program from its current $305 million to $375 million for the 2002 and 2003 fiscal years. This $70 million increase is significantly less than the $200 million that President Bush had requested.

On the reauthorization side, on November 13, the House passed H.R. 2873, the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendment of 2001. The bill reauthorizes the program for five years at its current funding level of $305 million annually and adds $200 million in discretionary funding for the program. Also, the bill authorizes $60 million to fund education vouchers for youth aging out of foster care and $67 million for two years to establish a program for mentoring the children of prisoners. The latter two authorizations respond to initiatives proposed by President Bush. H.R. 2873 has now been placed on the Senate calendar for a vote.

The House and the Senate spending bills both deferred making appropriations for the education vouchers and the mentoring program because work on the authorizing legislation had not been completed. For the same reason, the House and Senate deferred making appropriations for the President's proposals to fund efforts to promote responsible fatherhood. The Senate spending bill includes $33 million dollars for maternity group homes as the President's budget had requested; the House version does not. The House version includes $30 million for the Compassion Capital Fund, a new program requested by the Administration to further its Faith-Based Initiative aimed at expanding the pool of faith- and community-based organizations that deliver federally funded social services. The Senate version appropriated $89 million for the fund as the Administration had requested.

The Safe and Stable Families program provides funding to State and Tribal child welfare agencies for family support, family preservation, time-limited family reunification, and adoption promotion and support services. H.R. 2873 also adds two more allowable activities under the program: promoting healthy marriages to further the well-being of children and funding Infant Safe Haven programs, which give parents who otherwise would abandon their infants an option for relinquishment.

"Promoting safe and stable families is one of the most worthwhile priorities in the Federal budget," said HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson when the bill was introduced. "Strengthening families that are at risk and ensuring the safe and permanent placement of vulnerable children, such as those in foster care, is vitally important to our future as a country."

For bill summaries and status, visit the website of Thomas, a service of the Library of Congress at: http://thomas.loc.gov

Related Items

See the following related articles in these issues of the Children's Bureau Express:

• "Table Highlighting FY02 Appropriations Process to Date" (November/December 2001)
• "HHS Assistant Secretary Testifies Before Congress on CAPTA" (July/August 2001)

A new study suggests that while children adopted across cultures can benefit from learning about their birth culture, doing so is not a requisite to healthy psychological development.

Researcher Amanda L. Baden, Ph.D., of St. John's University, presented her findings at the American Psychological Association's 109th Annual Convention in San Francisco in August. Fifty-one adult adoptees (ages 19 to 36) who were transculturally adopted by Caucasian American families were surveyed to assess their racial and cultural identity and psychological adjustment. Participants included African Americans and Latino Americans adopted by white American families, as well as intercountry adoptees from Asian and South American countries.

Baden found that identifying with one's birth culture is not necessary for positive adjustment and suggested that other factors, such as family and peer relationships, may be more influential. She also noted that there was some evidence showing a relationship between adequately functioning in the culture of one's adoptive parents and successful psychological adjustment.

Although transracial adoptees adapted well without being immersed in their birth culture, Baden does not encourage adoptive parents from turning their children away from their roots. "I don't want to give the message that transracial adoptees do not find any strength or solace from learning about their birth culture," said Baden. "Transracial adoptees form a unique identity that is composed of a combination of identifying with the 'minority experience,' knowledge and values from the White culture, and aspects of their birth culture intermingled in some significant ways."

To obtain a full-text copy of Dr. Baden's presentation (session 2268) "Psychological Adjustment of Transracial Adoptees: Applying the Cultural-Racial Identity Model," contact the APA Public Affairs Office by phone at 800-374-2721 or by email at public.affairs@apa.org.

Related Items

Visit the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (http://naic.acf.hhs.gov) for the following related items:

• Transracial and Transcultural Adoption fact sheet
• Transracial Adoption statistics (this publication is no longer available)

A recently published study addresses gaps in knowledge about post-adoption dissolutions and the post-adoption service needs of adoptive parents.

Funded by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to the New York City Administration for Children's Services, the study was led by Trudy Festinger, D.S.W., of New York University. Entitled After Adoption: A Study of Placement Stability and Parents' Service Needs, it was based on a survey of more than 400 New York families who adopted children from foster care in 1996.

One question the study examined was whether a recent increase in the numbers of adoptions from foster care might result in a greater proportion of them failing. The study found adoption dissolution to be an infrequent event.

Another topic was the effectiveness of post-adoption services that are provided to adoptive families. The study found some room for improvement in this area. Lack of information about where to turn for help and the prohibitive cost of services, such as tutoring and summer camp, were cited most often by parents as barriers.

Festinger notes that the study was limited by its geographic limit to children adopted in New York City, most of whom were, at the time of the interviews still living in New York City or its immediate environs. She also notes that telephone interviews are inherently limited because they need to be relatively short and the data consisted of self-reports by adoptive parents.

Among the suggestions proposed to address the needs of adoptive parents are:

• Help adoptive parents locate and establish connections to community supports, e.g., a resource guide, adoptive parent telephone groups and buddy systems.
• Develop post-adoption services according to family needs—not agency capabilities—by contracting for services if necessary, e.g., tutoring.
• Establishing neighborhood-based foster or "resource" parent cluster support groups, in partnership with post-adoption service providers.

Festinger observes that parents who adopt children from the foster care system not only are giving a child a better chance in life by providing a permanent, loving home but also are providing a fiscal savings by eliminating the administrative costs paid to supervising agencies. She concludes that post-adoption service subsidies for adoptive families are a small price to pay for these benefits. The availability of these services may even encourage more potential adoptive families to adopt children waiting in foster care.

To obtain a copy of this study, contact:

Trudy Festinger
Ehrenkranz School of Social Work
New York University
1 Washington Square North
New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212-998-5974
Email: tf2@nyu.edu

On November 19, the second annual "World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse" was observed by 144 organizations representing 59 countries. Originated by the Women's World Summit Foundation, based in Geneva, Switzerland, the event was created "to disseminate worldwide public educational briefings and protective skills to help prevent child abuse and neglect, and give guidelines on Internet filters of protection for the good use of the net." Additionally, the World Day aims "to help provide children, families and communities with skills and resources they need to prevent abuse, cope with effects, and to end such practices."

The Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) describes itself as "an international, non-profit, non-confessional, non-governmental organization and empowerment agency that works for the implementation of women's and children's rights." November 19 was chosen as the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse to coincide with the World Child's Rights Day on November 20.

Joining the WWSF in observing this day was a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that marked the day by sponsoring various kinds of programs and lobbying national governments to proclaim World Day as a National Day. In addition, participants presented the United Nations with a petition in September. Among other things, the petition asked governments that have signed the Convention of the Rights of the Child to take steps to implement the convention. The petition also asked the United Nations to place a high priority on fighting child pornography, the sale of children, and child prostitution.

The names of the organizations that participated in the World Day 2001 are featured on a poster, which can be downloaded from the WWSF website. Participants from the United States, include:

• Coalition for Children
• Global Youth Action Network
• International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN)
• Pathways for Peace—The World Peace Prayer Society
• Sage Project
• The Simon Wiesenthal Center
• Women of Vision.

As part of the first World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse in 2000, the WWSF disseminated 15,000 copies of a public educational briefing in four languages by Dr. Sherryl Kraizer entitled "Protecting Children from Abuse." It focuses on educating children over the age of 3 on prevention strategies, how to respond to a child's report of abuse, and Internet safety guidelines. Many organizations adapted the briefing for distribution in local schools and other locations. The original briefing can be ordered via email at dignity@vtxnet.ch or downloaded from the WWSF website (http://www.woman.ch).

Local and national activities commemorating the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse in 2001 will be posted on the website. Some of the examples from last year were:

• Republic of Seychelles: Two days of special masses in churches across the country to commemorate the World Day; plays and dances in kindergartens; fundraising activities for local NGOs working with abused children, such as selling candles, bookmarks, and ribbons with World Day logos; radio and TV debates on child abuse organized by the Fathers' Association; distribution of an original poster created by an NGO coalition.
• City of Xian, China: Prevention campaigns on big television screens in the streets to alert the public of child abuse and neglect in China.
• Argentina: Child abuse prevention instructions created by a group of six NGOs and circulated in health centers, schools, and other locations; television and radio programs which featured the topic; plays by various youth groups related to the theme.

Contact information:

World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse
c/o Women's World Summit Foundation WWSF
PO Box 2001
1211 Geneva 1
Switzerland
Phone: (41 22) 738-66-19
Fax: (41 22) 738-82-48
Email: dignity@vtxnet.ch
Website: http://www.woman.ch

A Federal court has ruled that a child in foster care may sue a State for failing to start adoption proceedings for the child within the timeframes specified by the Adoption and Safe Families Act.

In his June 25, 2001, decision, Hon. Rudolph T. Randa of the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Wisconsin found that children in foster care have enforceable Federal rights under the Federal Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA).

ASFA provides generally that any child who has been in foster care for 15 of the most recent 22 months is entitled to State action on behalf of the child, by seeking an adoptive home and filing a petition terminating parental rights or by making an exception if termination of parental rights is not in the child's best interest. Despite Wisconsin's contention that ASFA provisions were too vague to be judicially enforceable, the judge ruled that the rights to initiate the adoption process in accordance with ASFA are within the competency of the Federal courts to enforce.

The class action lawsuit, Jeanine B. v. Scott McCallum, was brought by Children's Rights, a national non-profit advocacy group for children, and the ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation. According to the Children's Rights press release, as many as 75 percent (5,138) of the approximately 6,850 children in the custody of Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare have been in foster care more than the required 15 months, but the State prepares few cases for adoption as required by ASFA.

Changes are currently underway in the administration of the Milwaukee County child welfare system to address some of the problems raised in this case. In two May press releases, Susan Dreyfus, Administrator of the Wisconsin Division of Children and Family Services, announced the transition of responsibility for the child welfare services in Milwaukee County from the Milwaukee County Department of Human Services to four community non-profit agencies. One of the agencies, Children's Service Society of Wisconsin, will assume responsibility for completing timely, quality adoptions for children whose parents have had their parental rights terminated. Contracted agencies hired staff over the summer and completed the transition September 30.

"I am confident that the selected agencies are up to the task," said Dreyfus. "These agencies share hundreds of years of child welfare experience in Milwaukee County and Wisconsin. They are totally dedicated to high performance on behalf of our children and bring a breadth and depth of management experience."

Access a copy of the Federal case law at a local law library or online through paid subscription to Westlaw.com or Lexis.com.

For the text of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (P.L.105-89 visit Thomas, a service of the Library of Congress (http://thomas.loc.gov).

Congress has made progress both in reauthorizing and funding the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).

On October 17, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Subcommittee on Select Education held a hearing on the reauthorization of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act entitled the "Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect: Policy Directions for the Future." The hearing had been rescheduled several times due to the shifting legislative agenda in Congress following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

On October 11, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees voted to fund CAPTA programs for Fiscal Year 2002 at the following levels:

• CAPTA basic State grant program: House—$23 million; Senate—$21.026 million (2001—$21.026 million)
• Community-based family resource and support prevention grants: House—$34 million; Senate—$32.834 million (2001—$32.834 million)
• Discretionary research and demonstration grants: House—$19.978 million; Senate—$33.717 million (2001—$33.717 million)

Testifying before the House Subcommittee on Select Education on Oct. 17 were:

• Ms. Sandra Alexander, Georgia Council on Child Abuse, Inc., Atlanta, GA
• Ms. Patti Weaver, A Hand to Hold, Pittsburgh, PA
• Mr. Christopher J. Klicka, Home School Legal Defense Association, Purcellville, VA
• Ms. Linda Dunphy, Northern Virginia Family Service, Falls Church, VA
• Dr. Joann Grayson, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

The hearing was chaired by Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-OH), the subcommittee's vice chair.

Several witnesses said that CAPTA's focus on prevention must be maintained and strengthened. They also provided examples of how intervention programs, such as home visitation and Early Head Start programs, are preventing child abuse and neglect and promoting school readiness at a much lower cost than treatment services. Public-private partnerships were also presented as successful prevention efforts. Mr. Klicka testified about the problems of false reporting and the need for better parental due process rights under CAPTA. Weaver discussed safe haven/baby abandonment programs as a way to prevent child abuse and murder, using the example of A Hand to Hold, a program she founded that serves three counties in western Pennsylvania.

Rep. Robert C. Scott (D-VA) expressed concern about the plight of overburdened, underpaid, and inadequately trained Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworkers. He also suggested that the rising unemployment since the terrorist attacks may lead to increased child abuse and neglect as families endure more stress. Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) asked the panel of witnesses whether the religious exemption clause in CAPTA for cases of medical neglect should be removed. All the witnesses, with the exception of Mr. Klicka, agreed that it did not protect children.

The complete written statements of witnesses, as well as those of the subcommittee Chairman and Vice Chairman, are available online at: (http://edworkforce.house.gov/hearings/107th/sed/capta101701/wl101701.htm) (This link is no longer available)

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Subcommittee on Children and Families (http://www.senate.gov/%7Elabor/107hearings/107hearings.htm) (Editor's note: this link is no longer available) is scheduled to hold hearings on CAPTA at a later date.

Visit Thomas, a service of the Library of Congress, to access transcripts of committee hearings at: http://thomas.loc.gov

Related Item

See the following related article in the July/August 2001 issue of Children's Bureau Express:

• "HHS Assistant Secretary Testifies Before Congress on CAPTA"

Faith-based and community organizations face barriers to delivering social services under the auspices of Federal programs—that was the overall finding of a recent White House report, Unlevel Playing Field: Barriers to Participation by Faith-Based and Community Organizations in Federal Social Service Programs.

The report summarizes the initial findings of analyses conducted by Centers for Faith-Based & Community Initiatives in the Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Labor, and Justice. President Bush created the centers by executive order and charged them with conducting departmentwide audits to identify barriers to the participation of faith-based or community organizations in delivering social services through Federal programs.

The report notes that historically, the use of tax dollars by faith-based groups has been much debated and questioned on constitutional grounds. The report finds that the Federal grants system is inhospitable to faith-based and community organizations, making it difficult for these groups to gain support. Smaller groups, faith-based and secular, receive very little Federal support relative to the size and scope of the social services they provide. The report said that faith- and community-based organizations are at a disadvantage in competing for Federal social service grants for numerous reasons including the following:

• A pervasive suspicion on the part of Federal officials that funding faith-based organizations is inherently unconstitutional
• Agency reliance on outdated case law in setting agency policies
• Burdensome regulations and requirements that small organizations find hard to comply with, unnecessarily restricting religious activities that fall within constitutionally acceptable boundaries
• An environment that discourages faith-based organizations from applying for funds or encourages them to be "not too" religious
• Not honoring rights that religious organizations have in Federal law
• Imposing anti-competitive mandates on some programs, such as requiring applicants to demonstrate support from government agencies or others that might also be competing for the same funds.

The report says that Federal administrators have not sufficiently implemented the Federal law known as "Charitable Choice," which was intended by Congress to even the playing field for community and faith-based organizations competing for Federal grants. The report also states the need for a broad emphasis on demonstrating efficiency of the government-funded programs.

A complete copy of the report can be found on the White House website at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/ 2001/08/20010816-3-report.pdf

A national program that aims to prevent child maltreatment and improve outcomes for children has opened a new National Center for Parenting and Character Education.

EPIC (Every Person Influences Children), which offers training and education for both parents and teachers, has been implemented in 16 States and the Virgin Islands. Although primarily based in schools, EPIC also has been implemented through churches, hospitals, and community agencies. The new center, located in Buffalo, New York, will serve as EPIC's headquarters and as the hub of EPIC's training activities, including distance learning activities, Web-based learning, online discussions, and other Internet-enabled outreach.

EPIC offers workshops on developing parenting skills in order to:

• Reduce risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect
• Improve parents' relationships with their children
• Increase parents' knowledge of and ability to implement new parenting techniques
• Improve parents' ability to communicate with their children's teachers.

EPIC trains parents to serve as workshop facilitators, and materials and training are available in both English and Spanish. Other workshops for parents focus on learning to advocate for children and assuming leadership roles in the school community.

Programming for teachers focuses on infusing character education in the classroom and strengthening parent-teacher partnerships. With funding from the U.S. Department of Education, EPIC collaborated with Teachers College-Columbia University, and the New York State Education Department to develop the Pathways to Character pilot program, which integrates character education into the K-6 curriculum with age-appropriate activities. (In New York State, where EPIC was founded, public schools must provide civility, citizenship, and character education in grades K-12.)

EPIC's services also include presentations, referrals, and home visitation.

Further information about EPIC, its programs, centers, and locations can be obtained from its national headquarters or Website:

EPIC National Center for Parenting and Character Education
1000 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: 716-886-6396
Website: http://www.epicforchildren.org

Thanks in part to the Federal Chafee Foster Care Independence Act (FCIA), Arizona and New Jersey have extended Medicaid coverage to youths 18 to 21 years of age who have "graduated" from foster care.

FCIA, enacted in 1999, provides increased resources to help youths who have aged out of foster care attain success in the transition to independence. FCIA offers States matching Federal funds to expand Medicaid coverage and other services and supports, and affords States greater flexibility in carrying out programs designed to help youth make the transition from foster care to self-sufficiency.

Arizona's Children's Action Alliance (CAA) (http://www.azchildren.org) worked with State officials and agencies to enact a law in 2000 that, in addition to extending Medicaid coverage, allows the State to assist more of Arizona's former foster youths with housing, counseling, employment, and education. In 2001, an amendment to the law expanded it to offer every youth in foster care at age 18 access to Medicaid up to age 21.

In New Jersey, the Association for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) (http://www.acnj.org/home.asp?uri=1000&sti=1000) helped secure legislation to extend Medicaid coverage for youths graduating from foster care. Working with the Governor's office, ACNJ was able to get the Medicaid expansion folded into pending legislation, and it was enacted with NJ FamilyCare last year.

Other States that have enacted similar legislation or have similar legislation pending include Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas according to the National Conference on State Legislatures (NCSL) (http://www.ncsl.org).

Related Items

See related story, "Foster Children and Medicaid," in the May/June 2001 issue of the Children's Bureau Express.

Use the Search feature on this website to search the archives of the Children's Bureau Express for articles related to independent living.

Visit the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information for a copy of Title IV-E Independent Living Programs: A Decade in Review (Note: this is no longer available).

Statistics show that a large number of incarcerated youth were victims of child abuse and neglect. The July 2001 edition of the Juvenile Justice Bulletin, explores the relationship between childhood maltreatment and the likelihood of juvenile and adult offending.

Published by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the Bulletin focuses on a number of aspects of this problem, including:

• Research on the effects of childhood maltreatment, including subsequent offending and other at-risk behaviors
• OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders, which focuses on delinquency prevention and reform of the juvenile justice system

The main body of the Bulletin focuses on using Structured Decision Making (SDM) as a way to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies. As explained in the article, SDM comprises research-based assessment tools such as:

• Response priority assessment to determine how quickly to respond to a referral.
• Safety assessment to determine if there are any immediate threats to the child's safety.
• Risk assessment based on outcomes of actual cases.

A risk assessment scale used in California and the implementation of a SDM system in Michigan are presented as exemplary models. "By reducing the extent of maltreatment experienced by children, the SDM model can make a significant contribution to breaking the link between abuse and delinquency," conclude the authors.

Access a copy of the OJJDP Bulletin, Preventing Delinquency Through Improved Child Protection Services in HTML or PDF format online at: http://virlib.ncjrs.org/JuvenileJustice.asp

Related Item

For descriptions of other new Clearinghouse acquisitions, see the Resources section in the current issue of the Children's Bureau Express.

Child maltreatment can be a major hindrance to education, depriving children of their self-esteem and motivation to learn. Education professionals need to be able to recognize and address instances of maltreatment. This guide examines categories of maltreatment and their effects on classroom performance and behavior, offers effective teaching strategies for students who have been maltreated, and provides guidelines for identifying at-risk children and reporting maltreatment.

To purchase a copy, contact:

Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
PO Box 10624
Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
Phone: 800-638-3775
Fax: 410-337-8539
Email: custserv@brookespublishing.com
Website: http://www.brookespublishing.com

High school students and teachers have a new humane education resource available to them for school projects, reports, and debates. Understanding Animal Cruelty is a 24-page booklet produced by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that offers critical-thinking questions, activities, and suggestions on how teens can stop animal cruelty in their communities.

Among the issues addressed are:

• Concepts and causes associated with animal cruelty
• State and Federal laws that address the mistreatment of animals
• Connection between animal cruelty and domestic violence, child abuse, and other violent behavior.

Since animal abuse is often a precursor to other forms of violence, the resource guide advocates that these acts be taken seriously and reported. It profiles cases of animal cruelty committed by serial killers and notorious school shooters, such as Luke Woodham, a Mississippi high school student who killed his mother and two students six months after killing his dog. A neighbor who witnessed the killing of the dog failed to report it.

The booklet also points out that children who harm animals may be acting out their own experiences with abuse or releasing their fears and frustrations. The HSUS, FBI, and other groups encourage law enforcement officers, humane investigators, and social service agencies to cross-report acts of violence against people and animals to break the cycle of abuse.

Understanding Animal Cruelty can be downloaded online at: http://www.humaneteen.org

To purchase print copies of Understanding Animal Cruelty for $3 each or to learn about other materials for high school students, contact:

The HSUS Youth Education Division
PO Box 362
E. Haddam, CT 06423-0362
Phone: 860-434-8666
Fax: 860-434-9579
Email: humaneteen@naee.org
Website: http://www.humaneteen.org

Related Items

See the following related articles in the July/August 2001 issue of the Children's Bureau Express:

• "Animal Cruelty, Human Violence Linked in Humane Society Study"
• "New Online Resource Center Addresses the Link Between Violence to People and Animals"

For descriptions of other new Clearinghouse acquisitions, see the Resources section in the current issue of the Children's Bureau Express.

Parental substance abuse is a major factor contributing to child abuse and neglect. This connection is the subject of a new booklet by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA).

Entitled "Alcohol, Other Drugs, & Child Welfare," the booklet provides information and statistics on the relationship of substance abuse to child welfare. It briefly describes the current status of this problem in America, followed by sections describing the costs (financial and otherwise) of substance abuse in families, and specific kinds of programs and strategies that have been shown to be effective in combating this problem.

Among the booklet's findings are the following:

• More than 8 million children live with parents who are substance abusers.
• Substance abuse exists in 40 to 80 percent of families in which the children are victims of abuse.
• Children whose substance-abusing parents do not receive appropriate treatment are more likely to remain in foster care longer and to reenter foster care once they have returned home.
• Children whose parents abuse alcohol and other drugs are three times more likely to be abused and more than four times more likely to be neglected than children from non-abusing families.

Parents' abuse of alcohol and other drugs can lead to a cycle of addiction, which is reflected by high rates of alcoholism and other substance abuse among children of addicts. Substance abuse among youth leads to a domino effect of problems in school, involvement in juvenile justice, teen pregnancy, and mental and emotional turmoil. By focusing on prevention programs for youth, the authors contend that the cycle can be broken. They also recommend that parents receive treatment from comprehensive programs.

The bulletin concludes with a call to promote prevention and treatment, document successful practices, expand model programs, cooperate among agencies, and fund collaborative programs that address the multiple needs of individuals, agencies, and communities on the local, State, and national levels.

Access Alcohol, Other Drugs, & Child Welfare online at: http://www.cwla.org/programs/chemical/aodbrochure.pdf.

Related Items

For descriptions of other new Clearinghouse acquisitions, see the Resources section in the current issue of the Children's Bureau Express.

Read about a new series of HHS grants to communities and local governments totaling $42.1 million to increase the availability of alcohol and drug abuse treatment services at: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20011005b.html.

Search the documents database of the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information website for information related to substance abuse and child abuse (http://basis.caliber.com/cwig/ws/library/docs/gateway/SearchForm).

In an effort to engage communities in helping to improve dependency courts, the American Bar Association's (ABA's) Center on Children and the Law has developed a brochure for use in public education and other outreach efforts.

Forty-seven States and the District of Columbia participate in the federally funded National Child Welfare Court Improvement program. Through the program, the jurisdictions first assessed their court systems' handling of child abuse and neglect cases and then recommended systemic improvements. The courts are now in the process of implementing improvement plans. Some of the major issues addressed by the State court improvement projects include:

• Timeliness of permanency planning hearings
  
• Quality and depth of hearings
  
• Quality of legal representation
  
• Judicial training and education
  
• Treatment of parties and witnesses
  
• Multidisciplinary approaches that emphasize collaboration between court, agency, and community
  

According to Eva J. Klain of the ABA Center on Children and the Law, the brochure was developed at the request of several court improvement projects who wanted something to hand out to the community. Several directors of court improvement projects reviewed the text.

The ABA brochure provides background on the court improvement project and describes how courts are trying to become more "family-friendly" by making waiting rooms more inviting for children, providing materials that explain the court process in lay terms, and introducing other innovations. The brochure explains the challenges faced by attorneys working for children and steps that are being taken to remedy problems.

The brochure lists several ideas for involving the public in court improvement projects. "Community support is crucial for the long-term success of court improvement," states the brochure. "Individuals, local organizations and businesses all have skills and ideas to contribute to improve the courts that serve children and families."

Made possible through a grant from the Freddie Mac Foundation, the brochure is available online. Local courts can print the brochure in PDF format for printer-friendly reproduction or view it in HTML format at: http://www.abanet.org/child/brochure.html

Contact information:

Eva J. Klain
Director, Court Improvement
ABA Center on Child and the Law
740 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005-1019
Phone: 202-662-1681
Email: klaine@staff.abanet.org
Website: http://www.abanet.org/child/ctimpr.html

Corporal punishment and its effects on children continues to be a hotly debated topic. The author contends that this "minor" form of physical violence against children is a destructive act, akin to spousal abuse, which adversely affects the child and society as a whole. This work examines why so many parents resort to spanking, the myths that perpetuate corporal punishment, and the propagation of violence in society. The author argues that corporal punishment is never appropriate and that society needs to adopt a new approach to disciplining children.

To purchase a copy, contact:

Transaction Publishers
390 Campus Dr.
Somerset, NJ 08873
Phone: 732-445-1245
Fax: 732-748-9801
Email: orders@transactionpub.com
Website: http://www.transactionpub.com

Related Items

See the following related articles about other new publications in this issue of the Children's Bureau Express:

• "CWLA Addresses Intersection Between Substance Abuse and Child Abuse"
• "New Report Examines the Link Between Childhood Maltreatment and Juvenile Delinquency"
• "Resource Book Educates Teens about Animal Cruelty, Connection to Child Abuse"
• "School Adoption Resource Supports Parents and Teachers"

Search the documents databases located on the websites of the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (http://basis.caliber.com/cwig/ws/library/docs/gateway/SearchForm) and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse (http://basis1.calib.com/BASIS/chdocs/docs/naicweb/SF) for other new acquisitions.

Treatment of juvenile sex abusers has seen dramatic growth in the past 25 years, expanding from fewer than five specialized treatment programs in 1978 to over 1,000 identified programs in the year 2000. Presenting a comprehensive treatment program for adolescent sex offenders, the author covers every phase of treatment from assessment to relapse prevention. The book is divided into five parts:

• An introduction to the treatment of sexually abusive youth
• Treatment programs
• The basic components of treatment
• The issue of pretreatment and aftercare
• Staff training and development.

In addition, appendices include sources of additional information, sample day and after-school programs, sex offense-specific group materials, family treatment materials, and aftercare plans.

To purchase a copy, contact:

Haworth Press, Inc.
10 Alice St.
Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
Phone: 800-429-6784
Fax: 800-895-0582
Email: getinfo@haworthpressinc.com
Website: http://www.haworthpressinc.com

A collection of articles presented by participants in a conference of the same name, Trauma and Cognitive Science, examines traumatic experiences and their impact on memory. With a goal of fostering collaborative efforts and integrating diverse research groups, a variety of disciplines are represented, including cognitive scientists, developmental scientists, neuroscientists, and clinical researchers.

To purchase a copy, contact:

Haworth Press, Inc.
10 Alice St.
Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
Phone: 800-429-6784
Fax: 800-895-0582
Email: getinfo@haworthpressinc.com
Website: http://www.haworthpressinc.com

In addressing social issues such as child abuse and neglect, Federal policy makers are taking a look at the link between marriage and child well-being. Reflecting this emerging area of interest, the American Experiment Quarterly devoted its Summer 2001 issue to various perspectives on marriage and children in the United States.

In the introduction, Barbara Dafoe Whitehead and David Popenoe, co-directors of the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University noted that research indicates that children do best when they grow up with two married biological or adoptive parents; they also noted that married couples who fight can be detrimental to a child's well-being.

Along with discussing factors that have reshaped marriage, 16 contributing authors considered cultural or public policy changes that might strengthen marriage as an institution for rearing children. Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., the former president of the National Fatherhood Initiative and current U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, contributed one of the essays. He wrote that society is reluctant to discuss the virtues of marriage and offered suggestions on promoting marriage more effectively.

Access a copy of the American Experiment Quarterly, volume 4, number 2, Summer 2001 online at: http://www.amexp.org/aeqpdf/AEQv4/aeqv4n2/aeqv4n2.pdf.

Related Item

Read about $75 million in bonuses awarded to States by HHS for achieving largest reductions in out-of-wedlock births at: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2001pres/20010921.html

Recently released U.S. Census 2000 figures show that 2.4 million grandparents are singlehandedly raising their grandchildren. Many grandparents rearing grandchildren face challenges related to poverty, custody, child care, access to services, medical care, and more.

These "second-time-around" parents have a new place to turn for support. By visiting the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) website, they can connect with others facing similar issues. A database recently posted online and maintained by the AARP's national Grandparent Information Center, lists over 800 support groups for kinship care. By entering a zip code in the online search form, a list of groups in the visitor's area will be generated. These groups provide tips, ideas, and support and include the following types of programs:

• Support groups for grandparents or other relatives raising grandchildren
• Support groups for children being raised by grandparents or other relatives
• Grandparents' rights groups
• Agencies serving grandparents

Each database entry contains a brief description about the group's services and activities, such as frequency of meetings, newsletter, conferences, education, advocacy, and referral. A database registration form is available for leaders of support groups to register with the national database.

Access the database online at: http://www.aarp.org/Articles/a2004-02-23-grandparents_support_group_ search_form.html

For a table of Census 2000 Supplementary Survey data on grandparents responsible for raising grandchildren, with calculations by the Children's Defense Fund, visit: http://www.childrensdefense.org/data/census00/grandparents.aspx

Contact information:

Amy Goyer
Program Coordinator
AARP Grandparent Information Center
601 E St., NW
Washington, DC 20049
Phone: 202-434-6470
Fax: 202-434-2296
Email: gic@aarp.org
Website: http://www.aarp.org/grandparents

Related Items

See the following related articles in the March/April 2001 Children's Bureau Express:

• "New Law Supports Grandparents Raising Grandchildren"
• "The GrandFamilies House: A Home for Parenting Grandparents and Their Grandchildren"

Visit the fwebsite of the National Adoption Information Center for a list of resources related to grandparents raising grandchildren (http://www.calib.com/naic/pubs/r_grand.cfm).

Search the documents database on the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information website (http://basis.caliber.com/cwig/ws/library/docs/gateway/SearchForm) for information related to kinship care.

Hislop, J. Idyll Arbor, Inc., Ravensdale, WA. 2001. 254 pp. $35.00. Paperback.

Though not well documented, there is growing evidence that female sex offenders are more prevalent than was previously thought. Due to the nurturing and protective role women have in society, the damage done when women commit offenses of a sexual nature against children can be particularly harmful. The author examines the causes and effects of child sex abuse perpetrated by females, rates of offending by female sex offenders and problems defining child sexual child abuse and gathering data in this context, and diagnoses and treatment of female sex offenders.

To purchase a copy, contact:

Idyll Arbor, Inc.
25119 SE 262nd Street, PO Box 720
Ravensdale, WA 98051
Phone: 425-432-3231
Fax: 425-432-3726
Email: sales@idyllarbor.com
Website: http://www.idyllarbor.com

Franey, K., Geffner, R., and Falconer, R. (Editors). Family Violence and Sexual Assault Institute, San Diego, CA. 2001. 253 pp. $28.00. Paperback.

This book is a collection of articles that examine the varying ways child maltreatment impacts society. Beyond the devastating effects on the individual, there are societal tolls in terms of mental health and medical issues, economic impacts, and societal repercussions. The editors hope that by enlarging the focus from the individual impact of child maltreatment to the societal impact, the attention of a wider audience will be gained and the prevention of child abuse will become a higher priority.

To purchase a copy, contact:

Family Violence and Sexual Assault Institute
6160 Cornerstone Ct. E.
San Diego, CA 92121
Phone: 858-623-2777 x405
Fax: 858-646-0761
Email: FVSAI@mail.cspp.edu
Website: http://www.fvsai.org

Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) is a collaborative, client-centered approach to psychotherapy. In applying CAT, a patient's problems and difficulties are reconstructed in written and diagrammatic descriptions that provide a new basis for self-reflection and are used by therapists to gain trust and enter into intense therapeutic relationships. The author presents CAT as an approach to treat adults who were abused emotionally, physically, or sexually in childhood. Case study examples, accounts of CAT treatments and related outcomes, and comparison of CAT with other therapeutic approaches to trauma and abuse are included.

To purchase a copy, contact:

John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
605 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10158-0012
Phone: 212-850-6645
Fax: 212-850-6021
Email: subinfo@wiley.com
Website: http://www.wiley.com

Child Abuse Prevention Studies (CAPS) is a unique, two-year, interdisciplinary, post-baccalaureate certificate program housed within the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota. Beginning with the 1999-2000 academic year, CAPS became part of the Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse (MINCAVA).

Based on the premise that the economic, as well as emotional, costs of child abuse clearly indicate that prevention is cheaper than treatment, CAPS provides students and professionals with specialized training in child abuse prevention in order to work effectively with children and their families. Students earn an accredited certificate from the University by taking evening courses once per week for one or two years. The curriculum is intended to provide students with skills to develop research-based, practical programs that prevent or reduce harm to children.

Initiated in 1989, CAPS started off by conducting a roundtable of community leaders and a statewide survey about professional training needs. The initial curriculum was created in 1990, and the first cohort of students began in 1992. Between 1989 and 2000, CAPS provided specialized training for over 350 students via classroom teaching and interactive television, and has awarded over 165 certificates. CAPS students include social service professionals, early childhood educators, public health professionals, law enforcement and legal professionals, advocates, health care providers, teachers and administrators, guardians ad litem, post-baccalaureate and graduate students, and anyone else working with children, their families and the organizations serving them.

An interdisciplinary group of University of Minnesota faculty advises CAPS through a project called Child Abuse Prevention: Building an Interdisciplinary Perspective. Among experts on the faculty team are Jeffrey L. Edleson, School of Social Work; Marti Farrell Erickson, Children, Youth, and Family Consortium; Barbara Leonard, School of Nursing; and Mary A. McEvoy, College of Education and Human Development. The faculty team serves as advisors in CAPS curriculum development and course delivery, and provides training through a series of campus lectures and seminars.

To learn more about the CAPS program, browse the CAPS website at http://www.mincava.umn.edu or contact the CAPS office at (612) 624-0721.

For information on university and college BSW and MSW Programs that place a specific emphasis on pre-professional education and training for the child welfare workforce, visit the Child Welfare Training Resources Online Network at: http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/profess/workforce/index.cfm (this link is no longer available)