NCJ Number
181946
Journal
California Voter Volume: 86 Issue: 2 Dated: Fall 1999 Pages: 4-10
Editor(s)
Joanne Leavitt,
Patricia S. Kuhi
Date Published
1999
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article describes some of the ways in which professionals and community members, working together, have changed their programs, schools, and neighborhoods to be more supportive of children, youth, and families.
Abstract
Programs are needed that ensure social structures support families and strengthen communities. Successful programs are comprehensive, flexible, and responsive; see children in the context of their families and deal with families as parts of neighborhoods and communities; have a long-term preventive orientation and a clear mission and continue to evolve over time; are well-managed by competent and committed individuals with clearly identifiable skills; and operate in settings that encourage practitioners to build strong relationships based on mutual trust and respect. Ways in which successful community rebuilding can occur are identified, and the use of data from multiple sources to strengthen communities and improve services to children and families is discussed. Examples of and recommendations on forging essential connections between schools and work are offered. The Young Men as Fathers program in California is cited as a specific example of how to improve parenting skills.