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Genetic involvement in specific verbal and spatial abilities and memory and perceptual speed was assessed using 163 adopted and 142 non-adopted 7-year-olds and their biological, adoptive, and non-adoptive parents. Results imply the existence of some genetic continuity from the early school years to adulthood for verbal and spatial abilities. (TJH)

Discusses a pilot project which placed two children with complex medical needs in foster family care. The specialized foster home incorporated therapeutic aides, in-home respite care, and parental visiting in the foster home setting. (RJC)

Describes the Living in Family Environments (LIFE) program in Michigan, which is designed to improve the socioeconomic status of families receiving welfare while offering children with developmental disabilities the chance to lead more normal lives in a home environment. (BB)

Studies the modes of and condition at exit of 585 children who left the care of the Casey Family Program. The research reveals a number of significant relationships between certain conditions, circumstances, and characteristics of the children previous to admission, and their condition upon departure from agency care. (Author/BB)

Describes the self-help movement in Britain among parents and relatives of children in public care and considers the achievements, problems, and hopes of local groups. (RJC)

Discusses the reform of the foster care system in Japan. Considers the reasons for reform, the former problems of the foster care system, the major points of the reform, and the "special adoption" system. (RJC)

Presents an adoptive parent's anecdotal report of an unhappy and unsuccessful adoption of an older child. (RH)

The author discusses the emotional issues that confront stepparents and stepchildren and describes a program to help stepparents deal with these issues and other conflicts. She also explores the myths of instant adjustment and recreated nuclear families and the realities of the stepparent-stepchild relationship. (Author/BEF)

The rationale behind adult foster care (AFC) has been that "participation in the life of the family" is superior to institutionalization. Discusses extent to which elderly clients are integrated into the family and the method by which such integration was measured. (Author)

A pilot project demostrates that a carefully designed program encompassing training of foster parents, use of volunteers, community support, and full commitment by foster care workers can result in permanent homes for youngsters. (CM)

Advocates viewing the foster family and its specific problems as an open social system, as opposed to the closed, boundary-maintaining system of the nuclear family. (CM)

Describes a Canadian social service pilot program which employed experienced foster parents as foster family workers to recruit, screen, and train prospective foster parents. (CM)

Reports on the first segment of a longitudinal study of the effects of transracial and transcultural transplantation of Korean children into American foster families. (CM)

Describes the functioning of the Foster Grandparent Program in a residential treatment center for emotionally disturbed boys. The program is designed to utilize the skills and abilities of senior citizens. (CM)

Foster mothers were interviewed by independent researchers to obtain their view of the positive and negative aspects of being a foster parent. These mothers had specific comments and suggestions about their roles as foster parents. The authors make recommendations to improve satisfaction and quality of foster care. (Author)

Describes a program whereby foster parents, social workers, and parents are trained to help foster children increase understanding of their lives and decrease confusion about their identities. Integral to the program is the child's collecting information into a Life Story Book. (Author/DB)

Disturbed children ready for discharge from psychiatric hospital treatment were returned to the community with the assistance of a child welfare agency which selected appropriate foster homes. Foster parents were provided with intensive support, including ongoing psychiatric treatment for the child if needed. Differences in the various approaches of the professionals involved was found to be a significant problem. (Author/RH)

A brief questionnaire, sent to the adoption specialist in the state public child welfare agency in every state and the District of Columbia, posed the question: "In general, are foster parents given preference to adopt a child who has been in their care as a foster child and who is free for adoption?" (Author/RH)

Discusses the developmental needs of foster children when they are seperated from their natural parents. Examines stages of separation trauma, including shock, protest, despair, and detachment. Notes suggestions for counseling with foster children, including a foster parent's and educator's view. (RC)

Presents research on the relationship of two family counseling models (one with temporary foster placement, one without) to the recidivism of runaway teenagers. Research shows the Brief Family Intervention counseling model to be a statistically viable tool in deterring repeated runaway episodes. (Author)

Characteristics of successful and unsuccessful family care parents (N=55) who served mentally retarded/developmentally disabled children and adults were examined. Location (urban vs. rural) did not significantly discriminate successful and unsuccessful homes. Successful family caretakers were, however, generally older and more frequently were active in Protestant churches. (Author)

Briefly reports on findings from a study designed to identify differences and similarities between social workers' and foster parents' attitudes towards issues of child guidance. (Author/MP)

A program was undertaken to improve the communicational and parenting skills of inner city, lower socioeconomic minority group foster mothers. At evaluation, no differences were found in these skills between the control group and the training group; this points to the need for extended training programs for such mothers. (Author/GC)

Presents clients' perceptions of aspects of the foster care system. Includes quotations from written testimony submitted to the Governor's Task Force on Foster Care for Children (Maine 1980), taped interviews with foster children and biological parents, taped testimony delivered at public hearings, and written responses to foster parent questionnaries. (Author/RH)

Describes the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program, a volunteer program sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women. CASA volunteers oversee individual cases brought up for foster care or adoption, making sure that the system operates as fairly as possible and that everything is done to establish a permanent home for the child. (Author/CM)

Discusses how foster care and adoption are viewed by adoptive foster parents and children, and draws implications for permanency planning from their perceptions. Interviews were completed with 29 adoptive foster children, all of whom had special needs or were hard to place. (Author/RH)

Examines the influences of three principles (deinstitutionalization, normalization, and the right of dependent persons to treatment) on the child welfare system over the period 1960 to 1980. (Author/CM)

Relates the theory of grief and its resolution to foster parents' experiences of separation and loss, discusses obstacles to healthy grief resolution, and suggests how child welfare agencies and foster parents themselves can help foster parents resolve grief feelings. (Author/DB)

This study of 29 adopted children examines the consequences of parental rights termination (PRT) for neglected or abused children in relation to antecedent characteristics of children, parents, and circumstances in the foster care process. Suggests alternative plans for children whose PRT has not been followed by permanent adoptive placement. (Author/CM)

Briefly evaluates the Independent Living Subsidy Program (ILSP) designed to enable adolescents to make an effective transition from foster care, institutional living, or other forms of substitute care to full and productive self-sufficiency. Focuses specifically on the four stages of reactive depression (anxiety, fear and loneliness, elation, and quiet confidence), commonly experienced by ILSP participants. (Author/CM)

Explores the perceptions of 74 New Jersey child welfare workers pertaining to independent case reviews of children placed outside the home. Workers' understanding of the law, their methods of dealing with placement review in their practice, their relationship with their local board, and their overall assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of review are considered. (Author/CM)

Reports the results of a survey of 24 public child welfare agencies in Maryland. The adequacy of health care supervision for children in foster care is assessed. (Author/CM)

Literature published primarily during the 1970s is organized in these categories: overviews; theoretical, philosophical, historical and crosscultural perspectives; legal issues; causes; impact of placement on parents and children; minority groups; direct practice with parents; preventive, residential, and aftercare services; foster parent roles with biological parents; training; and policy, program planning/evaluation, and administration. (Author/CM)

To assist agencies concerned with converting foster homes into adoptive homes, the authors report pertinent findings gleaned from the research and practice literature. (Author)

A questionnaire was designed to solicit information from foster parents about their need of and desire for training, their suggestions on program content, and their perceptions about personnel for training foster parents. Questionnaire data, results of a pilot workshop, and curriculum demonstration evaluations were used to construct a training program relevant to the needs of foster parents. (Author/RH)

A model for group training of foster parents focuses on self-directed learning and mutual support to overcome feelings of powerlessness and isolation. (Author/RH)

The development of a program in which hearing impaired students of a residential-turned-day school lived with volunteer families close to the school is described. Advantages for students and families are cited. (CL)

Presented are objectives for a continuing education program designed to meet the needs of foster parents. The author suggests that university programs that use an interdisciplinary approach and capitalize on university-community resources can design successful parenting programs for foster parents. (KC)

Examines current approaches to treating child abuse using a model that includes both parents and children. Shows how a rural Parents Anonymous chapter, combined with a children's group, is an effective family-focused option for dealing with child abuse. (Author)

Points out the unresolved and complex issues affecting social agencies as they cope with the needs of unaccompanied refugee minors. (MP)

A composite case example illustrates cultural misunderstandings likely to be experienced by refugee minors and their foster families. (Author/MP)

Indicates prerequisites and strategies for successfully recruiting foster parents and discusses strategies for retaining their services. (RH)

Compared the relative effectiveness of individual home training and traditional group training for foster parents (N=29). All parents received combined behavioral/reflective parent training. While there were few differences in outcome related to attitudes and knowledge, measures of child behavior improvement and parent satisfaction favored home training. (Author/JAC)

Discusses issues involved in intercountry adoption, and examines problems of adopting children who have experienced war, hunger, and neglect. Considers such alternatives as helping Third World countries to develop their social services and recruiting minority families to adopt minority children. Presents recommendations for developing sound intercountry adoption policies. (Author/MJL)

Details benefits and pitfalls of periodic court review for achieving placement permanency for children, discussing what individual caseworkers can do to improve the review process. (RH)

Describes a service model aimed at alleviating isolation among foster families and increasing family support and resources. The general purpose of the model was to support placement of otherwise hard-to-place handicapped children and to improve the quality of care these children receive. (RH)