ED360093 PS021629
Title: Empowering At-Risk Families during the Early Childhood Years.
NEA Early Childhood Education Series.
Author(s): Swick, Kevin J.; Graves, Stephen B.
Author Affiliation: National Education Association, Washington, DC.(FGK56700)
Pages: 209
Publication Date: May 1993
ISBN: 0-8106-0366-7
Available from: EDRS Price MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from
EDRS.
Availability: NEA Professional Library, P.O. Box 509, West Haven,
CT 06516 (Stock No. 0366-7-00, $16.95).
Language: English
Document Type: Book (010); Guides--Non-classroom (055)
Geographic Source: U.S.; District of Columbia
Journal Announcement: RIEDEC1993
During the
past 40 years, the rapid pace and complex nature of social change
has created a stress-filled environment for families. New challenges
such as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), drug abuse,
increasing crime, economic malaise, moral deterioration, and increases
in mental health problems contribute to the increasing stress in
families. Historically, our society has looked to the family and
the school to deal with the dynamics of social change. However,
families have not received needed support for effectively dealing
with these changes, and schools still function within designs more
suited to the past than to the present or the future. A new paradigm
based on a family-school-community learning and support system is
needed. The focus of this book is on strengthening the early childhood
educator's position in creating supportive relationships with families,
particularly with those who are in at-risk situations. The book's
goal is to promote new ways of thinking about and relating to families,
with the focus on strengthening families and family-school relationships.
The book has five chapters: (1) "At-Risk Families: The Context";
(2) "Empowering At-Risk Families"; (3) "Understanding
the Barriers to Empowerment"; (4) "Insights on Relating
to the Needs of At-Risk Families"; and (5) "Supporting
At-Risk Families." Contains 190 references. (TJQ)
Descriptors: *At Risk Persons; Disadvantaged; Early Childhood Education;
Elementary School Teachers; Empathy; *Family Problems; *Family School
Relationship; *Family (Sociological Unit); *High Risk Students;
*Parents; Preschool Teachers; Problem Solving; School Community
Relationship; Social Support Groups; Special Needs Students; Stress
Variables
Identifiers: Dysfunctional Family; Ecological Psychology; *Parent
Empowerment
