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This paper compares outcomes for Hispanic and non-Hispanic families in Celebrating Families!™ (CF!), a family-centered practice designed to break the cycle of intergenerational adverse experiences and substance use problems. Pre- and posttest measures from both in-person and online both in-person and online CF! programs showed improvements in parenting skills, family strengths, and parental self-efficacy, regardless of ethnicity or primary language. Case examples illustrate how CF! can be adapted culturally and address the unique stressors experienced by vulnerable Hispanic families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a three-phased service model assessed using Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) conferences with informal kinship caregivers and their families. Gain scores were compared between Phase 2 (case management only) and Phase 3 families (case management with conference). Phase 3 families had higher gain scores than the Phase 2 families on measures of parenting stress, social support, family needs and child well-being, but the differences were not statistically significant. Phase 3 families had superior consumer feedback scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite repeated calls for evidence-based practice to address the co-occurring needs of families referred to the child welfare system for parental substance use disorders and child neglect, limited attention has been given to the rigorous evaluation of such interventions. This paper describes the initial testing of an intervention developed to meet the complex needs of such families. The Families Actively Improving Relationships (FAIR) program and preliminary outcomes are described. The need for integrated interventions is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of the Differential (or Alternative) Response (DR) paradigm in child welfare services, which involves the provision of preventative services for families at moderate to high risk for child maltreatment, highlights the need for further study of its theoretical foundations. his paper explores two of the central principles of the DR paradigm: "family engagement" and "voluntary participation." A theoretical model that draws upon literature from the fields of child welfare and psychology of motivation is presented to describe family engagement levels in voluntary settings. Analysis of data from 76 Family Resource Centers across 14 California counties suggests that--controlling for risk factors, demographic characteristics, and county-level fixed effects--clients referred through the DR process into the "voluntary" Paths exhibit lower participation levels than self- referred (or completely voluntary walk-in clients) and clients referred through the DR process into the "non-voluntary" Path, with the last two groups exhibiting similar levels of participation. These findings are consistent with the proposed theoretical model and highlight the need to consider voluntary participation in a prevention setting in a nuanced and non-linear fashion. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the effect of a province-wide vision of evidence-based and outcome-based services for children and youth and the challenges of implementing evidence-based practice (EBP) and evidence-based treatment (EBT) approaches within group care settings. The paper is based on the results of a survey of group care settings in the province of Ontario, Canada, which was designed to understand the factors affecting the use of EBP and EBT. The critical roles of policy, access to research, and organizational structure as they affect the frontline workforce were explored. The results identified key differences between programs who implemented an evidence-based approach and those who are struggling to do so. Differences in case management practices as well as organizational factors affect the program's ability to use an evidence-based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]