Multiproblem Families and the Community: An Exploration of Their Potential for the Combat of Unruly and Delinquent Behavior

• NCJ Number: 131389
• Author(s): B Berger
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 37 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Paper prepared for the conference on Delinquency and the Family, sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Boston, Mass., November 11-12, 1985.

Annotation

This study examines the influence of multiproblem families on the delinquency of family members, identifies community factors that can influence the childrearing practices in such families, and suggests ways to strengthen positive community influences on such families.

Abstract

The first part of this paper indicates that the love and aspirations multiproblem families (usually single mothers) hold for their children could be the foundation for the resocialization of their childrearing practices. The ability of parents in multiproblem families to perform childrearing tasks properly is limited by a number of factors, chief among them being a lack of childrearing knowledge and skills. They also lack access to those informal networks of institutions that customarily support families in their daily tasks. The second part of the paper proposes a focused effort to enlist informal neighborhood institutions, chiefly the churches, to assist in providing support and services to multiproblem families. This effort must come from within the communities themselves rather than being imposed from outside the community. A logical leader in such an effort would be the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise which has an "Adopt a Family" program and many neighborhood groups associated with it. 58 references