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Family-centered services: approaches and effectiveness
1University of Southern California School of Social Work, Los Angeles, USA.
The Future of Children
|July 24, 1998
Summary
Family-centered services, including family support and preservation, are crucial for preventing child maltreatment and stabilizing families. These approaches offer effective interventions for families facing parenting stress or serious challenges.
Area of Science:
- Child Welfare
- Family Services
- Social Work
Background:
- Child protection systems often prioritize investigations and out-of-home care.
- Preventative services and in-home support for families receive less emphasis.
- Stressed families require effective interventions to prevent child maltreatment and improve child-rearing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine promising and effective family-centered service approaches.
- To highlight family support and family preservation services.
- To review their characteristics, access, financing, and effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current understanding and evaluation findings.
- Analysis of family-centered service models (support and preservation).
- Discussion of service delivery, challenges, and community strengthening.
Main Results:
- Family-centered approaches encompass family support and preservation services.
- These services aim to prevent maltreatment and stabilize families.
- Evaluation findings on effectiveness and challenges in service delivery are reviewed.
Conclusions:
- Family-centered services are vital for addressing family needs and preventing child maltreatment.
- Effective implementation requires attention to coordination, financing, and community support.
- Further research and systemic reforms are needed to optimize service delivery.