Support Services Growing for Elderly in China

IN mainland China, there are more than 100 million people aged 60 or older, and their numbers are increasing by an average of three percent each year. Every day in China about 20,000 people celebrate their 60th birthday. There are more elderly people living China than in the rest of the world, it is estimated that by the year 2000, China will become a country of the aged, inhabited by more than 130 million elderly. So the aging issue and how the country will support its old people is of     

Woman Sacrifices All for Family, Community

YUAN Shuguo, 82, is an amiable and kind woman. Despite many years of hardship and frustration, she has brought up and educated four children. Even her granddaughter is married. Many of Yuan's burdens have been lifted from her shoulders and she now lives a content life with her husband. Yet deep in her heart, there will always be one regret. This is her story, in her own words.     

Support,Demands, and Gender Ideology: Exploring Work–Family Facilitation and Work–Family Conflict Among Older Workers

Only recently have researchers begun to investigate issues surrounding the work experiences of individuals in late midlife. This article contributes to the literature on work–family facilitation and conflict among older workers. I focus specifically on the extent to which gender ideology is associated with facilitation and conflict and whether that relationship differs for women and men. Using a sample of older workers (n = 2,253), I find that gender traditional respondents are more likely to report work–family conflict than are nontraditional respondents, with no corresponding association for work–family facilitation. There are no sex differences in the effect of gender ideology on facilitation or conflict. Results are discussed in the context of the importance of understanding the work–family interface among older employees.     

Equality for all? Support for equal opportunity among professors in Europe

Equal Opportunity programs (EO) continue to be at the center of the debate about promoting equality in higher education. While support for EO has been well-studied in American higher education, this research is the first to investigate the attitudes towards and support for a range of EO policies among professors in Europe. We specifically examine faculty support for seven different EO measures used in European universities that require varying levels of involvement and commitment. From a sample of 689 professors, findings show that women professors tend to show more support for all EO programs compared to men professors. We also see differences across disciplines. Professors from the humanities and social sciences are more likely to endorse such programs than their counterparts in STEM disciplines. Moreover, the differences across disciplines and gender decrease substantially when controlling for racial and gender attitudes. Finally, soft/differential programs, which prioritize merit but take group membership into account are preferred over hard/preferential programs which prioritize achieving equality by targeting members from marginalized groups. This research is innovative for its geographical location, sample of study, and range of included measures.     

Peer Support Groups for Child Welfare–Involved Families

Studies on risk factors and circumstances related to child maltreatment have continuously emphasized the important role of social support. As a result, peer support groups have been gaining attention and recognition in recent years in the field of child maltreatment prevention. However, little is known about the benefits that child welfare–involved parents receive in peer support groups, as well as the distinctive service elements that make these groups successful. By examining child welfare–involved parents’ experiences participating in peer support groups, this study provided a better understanding of the perceived beneficial aspects of peer support groups, specific types of supports offered to and by peers, and unique characteristics of these groups.     

“We Have to Create Family”: Aging Support Issues and Needs Among Older Lesbians

Gay and lesbian seniors are more likely to be single, live alone, and be childless. The current evidence base suggests that limited social supports are associated with a variety of health disparities among all older adults. Research regarding the aging issues of lesbian seniors is scarce. This instrumental collective case study of 4 older lesbians (ages 59 and older) illustrates unique aging support concerns, issues, and needs. The purpose of the case study is to increase provider sensitivity and provide supportive evidence of the need for more research. Findings suggest that limited biological family support, childlessness, and “families of choice” may be important factors in support service and health care decisions for older lesbians. Implications for care providers in working with the older lesbian population include exploring existing supports and assisting with the formation of culturally acceptable support systems and services. Given the current evidence base regarding the impact of social support on elder health, it is critical for providers to have a better understanding of elder lesbians’ unique concerns and needs relating to support and health care services in order to prevent health disparities among this vulnerable population.     

Passive Support: No Support at All?

Several scholars have pointed out a shift from classic secondary associations to tertiary organizations based on passive support in Western countries. This development necessitates a better understanding of passive support within social science and voluntary sector management, on which strong opinions are expressed in the literature. This article attempts to contribute to the empirical basis for such opinions. We suggest that the current anxieties concerning the future of democracy if activity rates drop may be exaggerated.     

Instant Family

WHEN Su Lixin, 26, gave birth to quadruplets, their two-person family suddenly became a six-person family. People from all circles have shown their concern for this special family. The quadruplets' grandfather, Sun Chengji, said, "Without the help of so many warm-hearted people, my four grandsons would not live so happily."     

Adolescents' Plans for Family Formation: Is Parental Socialization Important?

This study examines adolescents' plans for family formation (marriage and parenthood) and the congruence between their plans and their mothers' expectations and behaviors within these spheres. Using log‐linear and ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models to analyze data from the National Survey of Children (N= 724 ), this study addresses mechanisms of family socialization (e.g., modeling and defining influence) informed by social learning and symbolic interactionist theories. It also reveals whether and how these mechanisms vary according to gender. Results reveal that family factors best predict children's plans, although peer groups also may be important. In addition, defining influence is stronger than modeling influence.     

Objectives and Principles Announced for 1994 International Year of the Family

The United Nations has proclaimed 1994 as the International Year of the Family and has defined its objectives to stimulate local, national and international actions as part of a sustained longterm effort to: a. Increase awareness of family issues among Governments as well as in the private sector. IYF would serve to highlight the importance of families; increase a better understanding of their unctions and problems; promote nowledge of the economic, social and emographic processes affecting families     

Friendsourcing Peer Support for Alzheimer’s Caregivers Using Facebook Social Media

ABSTRACT

This research piloted an e-health intervention that used social media to friendsource peer support for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) caregivers. Friendsourcing is a variant of crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing recruits online participants who share a characteristic that makes their volunteerism meaningful when they join to achieve an outcome. Friendsourcing recruits online participants who share membership in a social network that makes their volunteerism meaningful when they join to achieve an outcome. This article introduces our friendsourcing intervention research and examines the effects on the psychological well-being of AD caregivers. After a 6-week intervention, caregivers were found to have significantly decreased burden (Z?=??2.01, p?<?.05) and perceived stress (Z?=??2.95, p?<?.01). Emotional and informational support scores were significantly increased (Z?=??2.32, p?<?.05). Qualitative data analysis of the intervention identified positive effects in new caregiving knowledge acquisition and application and reduced stress in the acceptance of the caregiving role. Joining social networks in support groups through friendsourcing was feasible for AD caregivers who were familiar with social media, and can provide another means of guiding the development of their personal support networks.     

“Positive Feelings”: Group Support for Children of HIV-Infected Mothers

This paper describes a support group for children, ages 9–13, whose mothers are living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Beginning with identification of the need for, and purpose of the group, the paper describes the group recruitment, screening and intake process; group composition; group content and process; barriers to service and issues specific to facilitation of the group. The group provided support to children by increasing knowledge of HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) issues, providing a forum for expression of feelings and concerns regarding their parent's HIV status, improving communication skills, identifying and expanding coping strategies, and facilitating peer support for normalization and validation of fears and concerns.     

‘Changing the way we do child protection’: The implementation of Signs of Safety® within the Western Australia Department for Child Protection and Family Support

ObjectiveThis paper describes a six-year large scale implementation of the Signs of Safety practise framework in a complex statutory child protection context in Western Australia. The case study documents both the practitioner-led and organisational-led implementation journey as part of the State's child protection system reform drawing on Roger's diffusion of innovation theory and Fixsen's five stage implementation model as conceptual frameworks, and highlighting the key facilitators and barriers.MethodsThe study is a collaboration between researchers investigating the impact and use of Signs of Safety in Western Australia who contributed the theoretical perspectives and analysis; and key personnel from the Department responsible for implementation who contributed documents, manuals, records and personal accounts to form the narrative of the implementation. A naturalist, intrinsic and multiple case study design utilising semi-structured interviews was used to consult with 27 Departmental staff and practitioners. Thematic analysis was utilised to identify key themes and patterns of experiences with the Signs of Safety framework implementation.FindingsMuch can be learned from the journey of the Department and their long term commitment and systematic implementation strategy of Signs of Safety including the significance of leadership, learning and developing initiatives, effective communication, instituting continuous improvement processes and the provision of feedback for individual practitioners. Signs of Safety appealed to natural champions of systemic social work practise within the Department whose organisational culture adapted to align with the principles of the framework in building partnerships and understanding with families, being solution-focused, maintaining an open stance of inquiry and balancing strengths and safety around children whilst concurrently working to solve dangers and harm. As a learning organisation, the Department also utilised case practise implementation teams to be able to move through more successfully the different stages of implementation. In utilising Fixsen's implementation framework, the challenges and gaps to implementation strategies were also highlighted, including a problematic data system and an internal focus compromising the success of interagency collaboration.ConclusionThis discussion paper has provided an overview of the key concepts of the diffusion and implementation literature, and highlighted the importance of utilising theoretical frameworks in guiding implementation of practise models especially in complex statutory child protection contexts. Findings will be of particular interest to child welfare leaders and supporters of organisational change, providing concrete examples of implementation strategies and demonstrates the systemic benefits of a theoretical framework for guiding implementation efforts.     

My Ping-Pong Family

WHEN I was born, my father was 40 and my mother was 36. Father is a man of few words and an introverted nature. He belongs to that type of people who are very tough and strong-willed; he has worked hard all his life. Mother, on the other hand, is extroverted and eager to excel. My personality is a combination of both of their characters. Father loves playing ping-pong ardently. He used to be a top player of the Henan provincial team and won the men's singles championship in a contest of five provinces in central and southern China. Mother, a worker at the No. 4 National Textile Mill in Zhengzhou, also loved to play ping-pong when she was young. It was because of the sport that she and Father were brought together and got married. When the Henan     

Does Family Intervention for Adolescent Substance Use Impact Parental Wellbeing? A Longitudinal Evaluation

Adolescent substance abuse is a common problem and family interventions are emerging as a strategy to prevent it and assist family coping. The effectiveness of a prevention‐focussed family intervention was evaluated for its secondary impacts on improving parental mental health and family functioning. Twenty‐four secondary schools in Melbourne Victoria were randomly assigned to either a control condition or an intervention titled Resilient Families. The two intervention levels analysed were: (1) a parenting booklet only and; (2) combining the booklet with face‐to‐face parent education sessions. Parent surveys at baseline were followed up one year and four years later. Repeated‐measures analysis (n = 560) found parents attending parent education demonstrated reductions in mental health symptoms, however this had negative effects on family cohesion and no impact on family conflict. These findings were interpreted in terms of parent education assisting parent mental health by promoting assertive parenting styles that may increase adolescent‐parent tension by encouraging firmer parental boundaries and strategies to reduce adolescent substance use.     

Marriage and Family Therapy

About the author: Chen Yiyun graduated from the Russian Language and Literature Departraent at Beijing University in 1964. She then enrolled at the Sociology Institute of the China Academy of Social Sciences in 1978. Upon graduation, she remained at the Institute as a research fellow. She later became editor-in-chief of the magazine Sociology Abroad. She translated and edited dozens of sociology books. In 1988, after she returned from the United States, she devoted herself to the research of sociology and marriage consultation. In 1993, Chen set up the Jinglun Family Science Center, a non-governmental organization which is a combination of scientific research and social practice. She organized scholars, social workers and volunteers from sectors of public health, education and legislation to conduct useful activities to promote democracy in the family, equality, health and civilization.     

Dialogues in a Family

FIAMILY relations are the ties that bind—providing care and support in times of need. This truth remains in China and throughout the world. One Beijing family adds flowers tO this equation and together as gardeners grow generations strong. In Nongfengli of eastern Beijing live Lü Shijian and his wife Zhao Naiwen, both retired experts from the Ministry of Agriculture. In their eighth-floor     

Parent–Child Relationships in the Twilight Saga: Implications for Family Life Education

One source of cultural messages for adolescents is the novel. According to Reader Response Theory, readers interact with the text to construct meaning. This process makes novels an effective tool for facilitating parent–child communication. The current qualitative study examined the parent–child relationships portrayed in The Twilight Saga. Five themes emerged through inductive analyses. This article includes a comparison of the themes in the novels with the literature on parent–adolescent relationships. We also offer suggestions to family life educators regarding how to use the novels with parents and teens to facilitate communication about parent–child relationships.     

Latino Families with a Child with Prader–Willi Syndrome: Exploring Needs for Support

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex, genetically based disorder; caring for a family member with a disability such as PWS brings significant challenges to the whole family. However, no research has been conducted focusing on the impact of PWS in the dynamics of Latino families. This qualitative study explored the challenges and need for support services among Latino families of children with PWS. Findings of the study suggest the need for support services geared toward the whole family unit to help members cope with daily challenges at home.     

Progress of Rural Family

3435Progress of Rural Family