Abstract

The contributors to this topical volume explore the role of family support in promoting the welfare of children and their families. They show how children can be supported in the development of their full potential despite adverse experiences. Family support enables children to access the variety of resources available to them in the multiplicity of contexts in which they live.

Family Support: Direction from Diversity integrates concepts and experiences from an international perspective, different levels of analysis (society, community and family) and different loci of intervention (education, social services and local government). Specific areas covered include:

* principles of family and social support

* social networks and social change in the family and the community

* reciprocal support between families, schools and the community

* restoring the balance of control between parents and children

* supporting young people who misuse drugs.

Family Support presents current knowledge about family support and sets out directions for future developments in thinking and service provision.

It shows how an understanding of the complexity and potential of family support can inform and enrich the work of educators, professionals, service providers, policy makers and academics.

Practitioners and policy-makers, across a wide spectrum of agencies responsible for providing child protection and family support services, will welcome this new contribution to the field of child care. The book helps to consolidate our current knowledge and identify the common themes necessary to develop family support as an integral part of mainstream and specialist services in the future.
Child Abuse Review
Family support is the key to enhancing the development, welfare and safety of children and young people, argue the authors. They suggest that the most promising future for family support lies in an inclusive vision where elements from a diverse range of fields are joined in a common venture to promote the concept. The editors have succeeded in putting together a stimulating publication for professionals involved in family support at many organisational levels. The book can be used as a tool in the education and training of professionals involved in promoting the welfare of children and families. For practitioners, it provides a means of updating and understanding the theory and practice of family support and it serves as an important source of ideas for service planners in the public sectors.
Community Practitioner
The editors and publishers are to be congratulated on providing a timely contribution to the literature that helps to consolidate our current knowledge and identify the common themes necessary to develop family support as an integral part of mainstream and specialist services in the future'.
Child Abuse Review
There is much here to interest both the practitioner and academic in reminding us that personal action is important, whether at the informal level or under the aegis of the state and that through intervention, it is possible to make a difference.
Social Policy