David A. Dosser

Wraparound—The Wave of the Future: Theoretical and Professional Practice Implications for Children and Families with Complex Needs

The wraparound process provides a contemporary perspective on providing mental health and related services to children and families with complex needs. Wraparound is a strengths-based, family driven orientation that focuses on the uniqueness of each child and family. In this article, the professionals role in the wraparound process is highlighted. Part 1 offers a historical perspective; political and economic implications atfederal, state, and community levels focusing on wraparound; and summarizes research outcome data associated with its use. Part 2 emphasizes clinical practice implicationsforfamily nurses or service providers in other disciplines who work with these children and families. A case study demonstrates how structural family therapy may be used as a theoretical framework in concert with the wraparound process.

The Impact of Hurricane Floyd on Eastern North Carolina's School-Aged Children

Abstract The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the experiences of children following Hurricane Floyd and its ensuing flood. Narratives from 97 children ages 7-12 were gathered using an open-ended question included in the PTSD Child Interview (Fletcher, 1996). Qualitative analysis, guided by a phenomenological design, was conducted on the data. Six themes representing the childrens perspectives of the hurricane experience emerged from the analysis: (a) escaping the flood, (b) destruction and damage to property, (c) inconvenience and restoration, (d) concern for self and others safety, (e) recollection of place, time, and event, and (f) thankfulness. This study helps researchers and clinicians understand the merits of gathering childrens perspectives useful toward supporting them and their families following a hurricane and/or flood event.

Including Families' Spiritual Beliefs and Their Faith Communities in Systems of Care

SUMMARY System of care (SOC) philosophy and principles were developed and systems of care are designed and implemented to improve the mental health services that are delivered to children and families. The identification and effective use of resources to assist families in managing their concerns and difficulties are important considerations with SOC. Flexibility including the use of traditional and non-traditional services and resources is central to SOC philosophy and practice. In terms of resource identification and utilization, the familys spiritual beliefs and their faith community are often underutilized or overlooked. Reasons for this are described in this article, along with the advantages of and strategies for including them in SOC.

Descriptions of Home Economists From Three Perspectives

The purpose of this study was to consider the image of home economists by examining descriptions of home economists from three perspectives. Eighty-four female members of a home economics organization completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory three times to describe themselves, to describe a home economist, and to describe a home economist as a non-home economist might. Participants described themselves as masculine, described a home economist as undifferen tiated or mixed, and believed non-home economists would describe a home economist as feminine. Age of participants was related to status ranking of the profession and sex role. Androgyny was not found to be characteristic of mem bers of the home economics profession from any of the three perspectives. Im plications of these findings are discussed along with suggestions for future re search.

Words Can Be Powerful: Changing the Words of Helping to Enhance Systems of Care

SUMMARY In this paper, the schema for family-centered practice is proposed as a tool that would make it easier for workers to practice according to system of care values and principles. The use of a system of care model of practice requires both providers and consumers of services to make a paradigm shift in their thinking about how assistance is conveyed. The model emphasizes forging a partnership between service providers and consumers rather than founding the helping relationship on a more traditional hierarchical approach that places the provider in the role of expert. Unfortunately, much of the language used by the helping professions reinforces a more conventional provider-as-expert approach. To assist providers and consumers in making the necessary paradigm shift away from the provider-as-expert approach, the authors propose using a schema for family-centered practice (schema). The schema, comprised of six steps (Joining gt; Discovery gt; Changing gt; Celebrating gt; Separating gt; Reflection), promotes the use of a new user-friendly language format, which is consistent with system of cares thinking and practice focus on partnering consumers and service providers. The values of the schema as a tool for use in system of care work along with descriptions of the experiences of service providers and consumers in using the schema are included as are suggestions for its use.

1987: Nineteenth Annual NCFR Filmstrip/Videotape Competition

The 1987 annual National Council on Family Relations Filmstrip/ Videotape Competition was hosted by the Child Development and Family Science Department, College of Home Economics, North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, the week of April 6-10, 1987. The purpose of this competition, according to NCFR, was to evaluate quality and endorse excellence in the production of filmstrips and videotapes with themes relevant to family issues, to promote the effective use of these resources, and to encourage high standards in the development of creative learning opportunities.

1987: Nineteenth Annual NCFR Film Awards Competition

The 1987 National Council on Family Relations Film Awards Competition was held in Fargo, North Dakota, the week of May 4-8. This competition was hosted by the Child Development and Family Science Department, College of Home Economics, North Dakota State University. The purpose of the annual competition is tc evaluate quality and endorse excellence in the production of films with themes relevant to family issues, tc promote the effective use of these resources, and to encourage high standards in the development of creative learning opportunities.