Policy pointers

Families, Children & Youth

Taking Chances: The Effect of Growing Up on Welfare on the Risky Behaviour of Young People

CEPR

This 42-page Australian discussion paper analyzes the effect of growing up on welfare on young people's involvement in a variety of social and health risks

Families, Children & Youth, Social PolicyPosted: 2009-04-09

Leaves That Pay: Employer and Worker Experiences With Paid Family Leave in California

CEPR

This 36-page US report presents findings from the responses of 253 employers and 500 individuals about their experiences with the California Paid Family Leave programme, and concludes with policy recommendations

Families, Children & Youth, Social PolicyPosted: 2011-01-29

Parental Leave Policies in 21 Countries

CEPR

This 23-page US report compares the level of support provided to parents by 21 high-income countries

Families, Children & Youth, Social PolicyPosted: 2008-09-01

Severed Connections

Centre for Social & Community Research

A 62-page Australian report of a study examining the impact of imprisonment on the family ties and social networks of female prisoners

Crime, Law & Order, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2005-01-17

Transitions in Australian Labour Markets: Initial Perspectives

Centre for Public Policy

A 50-page Australian discussion paper examining the concept of Transitional Labour Markets and its application to policy formulation in Australia

Employment, Industrial Relations & Training , Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2005-01-31

Gender, Time Use and Public Policy Over the Life Cycle

Centre for Economic Policy Research - ANU

This 22-page Australian discussion paper compares gender differences in time allocation to market work, domestic work, child care and leisure in Australia, the U.K. and Germany

Social Policy, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2005-11-17

Child Care Costs and the Employment Status of Married Australian Mothers

Centre for Economic Policy Research

A 27-page Australian discussion paper examining the implications of child care costs on maternal employment status

Families, Children & Youth, Employment, Industrial Relations & Training Posted: 2006-04-25

Family Intervention Projects: A Classic Case of Policy-based Evidence

Centre for Crime and Justice Studies

This 21-page UK briefing is based on a comprehensive re-analysis of government- funded evaluations on the effectiveness of its Family Intervention Project (FIP)strategy

Crime, Law & Order, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2010-08-19

Early Childhood Intervention: Core Knowledge and Skills

Centre for Community Child Health

A 27-page Australian working paper identifying trends in the field of early childhood intervention.

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2008-11-17

An Integrated Approach to Early Childhood Development

Centre for Community Child Health

This 47-page Australian paper includes: a synthesis of evidence regarding societal change and its impact on children, families and communities; the response of governments to these changes; and what is known about effective services, service systems and government policies

Families, Children & Youth, HealthPosted: 2010-10-11

Little Eyes, Little Ears

Centre for Children and Families in the Justice System

A 44-page Canadian report illustrating how violence against a mother affects children

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2007-06-19

Key Work and Family Trends in Australia

Centre for Applied Social Research

an 82-page descriptive overview of key trends in Australian society affecting work and the family

Families, Children & Youth, Employment, Industrial Relations & Training Posted: 2004-06-11

An Assessment of the Functioning of the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline of the District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency

Center for the Study of Social Policy

A 25-page report on the operation of this 24-hour hotline designed to receive and respond to reports of alleged child abuse and neglect

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-04-12

Encouraging Strong Family Relationships

Center for the Study of Social Policy

A 73-page U.S. report examining recent changes in the structure of American families and proposing benchmarks for a framework favouring the healthy formation and maintenance of families

Families, Children & Youth, Social PolicyPosted: 2004-07-26

Starting Out Right: Pre-k and Kindergarten: Full Report

Center for Public Education

This US report looks at the effect of various combinations of pre-k and kindergarten on third grade reading skills

Education, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2011-11-15

Looking to the Future

Center for Law and Social Policy

A 7-page U.S. commentary on how best to promote the healthy development, productivity and well-being of the children of immigrant families

Immigration & Refugees, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-10-26

No Minor Matter: Developing a Coherent Policy on Paternity Establishment for Children Born to Underage Parents

Center for Law and Social Policy

This 8-page U.S. brief considers the policy issues posed in establishing the paternity of children born to underage parents

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-03-23

The New Kid on the Block: What is Marriage Education and Does it Work?

Center for Law and Social Policy

An 8-page U.S. brief describing marriage education and examining whether it works

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2005-08-04

Rethinking Welfare Rules From a Marriage-Plus Perspective

Center for Law and Social Policy

This 8-page U.S. brief explores the relationship between public benefit rules and marriage

Families, Children & Youth, Social PolicyPosted: 2005-04-13

Learning from the Youth Opportunity Experience: Building Delivery Capacity in Distressed Communities

Center for Law and Social Policy

A 50-page U.S. report examining lessons learned from the Youth Opportunity scheme, which provided grants to high-poverty communities to improve youth-service systems/agencies within the communities

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2006-02-20

The Benefits of a Healthy Marriage

Center for Law and Social Policy

An 8-page testimony to a U.S. Senate subcommittee regarding current marriage promotion activities

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-05-24

Moving Forward: Head Start Children, Families and Programs in 2003

Center for Law and Social Policy

This 8-page U.S. policy brief reports on the activities of the Head Start program, which provides early learning and support services for low-income children and their families

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-07-06

Taking the Next Step: What Can the U.S. Learn About Parental Leave From New Zealand?

Center for Law and Public Policy

This 8-page work-life balance brief discusses New Zealand's experience with paid parental leave and its policy implications for the U.S.

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-12-16

What Do We Know About Couples and Marriage in Disadvantaged Populations?

Center for Law and Public Policy

A 37-page US paper examining recent research on couples and marriage through the lens of economic disadvantage

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2006-07-02

Use of Children in Armed Conflict

CDI

A 6-page US House testimony on the use of children in armed conflict

Human Rights, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2007-04-25

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse within Youth-serving Organisations: Getting Started on Policies and Procedures

CDC

A 55-page US guide identifying key components of child sex abuse prevention for organisations

Families, Children & Youth, Crime, Law & OrderPosted: 2007-05-12

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Within Youth-Serving Organisations

CDC

A 55-page US report providing guidance on establishing policies and procedures for preventing child sexual abuse in youth-serving organisations

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2007-09-22

Talking Parents, Healthy Teens: A Worksite-Based Program for Parents to Promote Sexual Health

CDC

This 10-page article describes a US intervention designed to help parents improve communications with their adolescent children, promote healthy adolescent sexual development and reduce adolescent sexual risk behaviour

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2006-12-01

Views of Children and Young People in Alternative Care in Queensland

CCYPCG

Three Australian reports documenting the views of children and young people in alternative care in Queensland (single page linking to each report)

Families, Children & Youth, Social PolicyPosted: 2008-08-07

Child Health and Safety in Canada, the United States and Mexico

CCSD

This 64-page report monitors child wellbeing in North America

Families, Children & Youth, HealthPosted: 2007-06-15

Building on Our Strengths

CCSA

This 139-page Canadian volume is designed to support the efforts of school/board staff, as well as other public health or addictions prevention professionals working in and with school-based substance abuse prevention and health promotion teams

Drug Abuse, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2010-08-19

Substance Abuse in Canada: Youth in Focus

CCSA

A 51-page Canadian report proposing directions for addressing the threats that alcohol and other drugs pose for youth

Drug Abuse, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2007-09-05

If You Want to Change Violence in the‘Hood, You Have to Change the ‘Hood

CCPA

A Canadian report on how to address violence and street crime in cities

Crime, Law & Order, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2009-09-16

Policy, Purpose and Pragmatism: Dilemmas for Voluntary and Community Organisations Working with Black Young People Affected by Crime'

CCJS

A 39-page UK report finding that voluntary and community organisations working with black young people affected by crime are undermined by contradictory governmental agendas and a constant competition for limited resources within a conservative funding environment

Crime, Law & Order, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2009-07-16

Reading Next: A Vision for Action and Research in Middle and High School Literacy

Carnegie Corporation of New York

A 53-page U.S. research-based report outlining fifteen key elements of an effective literacy intervention for adolescents

Education, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-11-02

Without a Paddle: What to do About Canada's Young Dropouts

Canadian Policy Research Networks

A 114-page study examining the labour market experience of school dropouts in Canada and identifying appropriate policy responses

Families, Children & Youth, EducationPosted: 2005-10-17

Child-Friendly Cities

Canadian Policy Research Networks

A 26-page bulletin highlighting recent initiatives, reports and other resources relevant to the need for and development of child-friendly cities

Families, Children & Youth, Urban IssuesPosted: 2005-02-21

Growing Up in North America: Child Well-Being in Canada, the United States and Mexico

Canadian Council on Social Development et al.

A 50-page report examining the state of child well-being in North America

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2006-05-04

Making Early Childhood Development a Priority: Lessons from Vancouver

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

A 13-page Canadian paper making the case for publicly-funded early learning and care services

Families, Children & Youth, EducationPosted: 2004-07-15

Children and Young People in Mind

CAMHS

This 118-page UK report examines how children’s health, education and social care services are contributing to the mental health and well-being of children and young people.

Health, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2008-12-17

Assessing and Responding to Parenting Support Needs in Disadvantaged Families: Lessons from Parent Education Programs

CAFCA

This 9-page Australian practice sheet provides information on how to assess and respond to the needs of parents who are seeking support in their parenting role

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2010-11-16

Sure Start Childrens' Centres: A Post-Occupancy Evaluation

CABE

An 89-page UK evaluation of views of the new Sure Start facilities

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2008-10-06

Poverty Rate Among Single-Parent Families Cut by Half over Decade

C.D. Howe Institute

A 20-page study claiming that the poverty rate among the two million Canadians living in lone-parent families has fallen by more than half over a decade

Poverty & Hunger, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2010-06-24

Let's Walk Before We Run: Cautionary Advice on Childcare

C.D. Howe Institute

A 21-page Canadian Commentary arguing that childcare programmes should be targeted on disadvantaged families

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2006-08-11

Good Health to All: Reducing Health Inequalities among Children in High- and Low-Income Canadian Families

C.D. Howe Institute

This Canadian study identifies the policies that would, for families across different income groups, best address inequality in the health of children

Families, Children & Youth, HealthPosted: 2009-05-06

Good Health to All: Reducing Health Inequalities among Children in High- and Low-Income Canadian Families

C.D. Howe Institute

This 24-page Canadian paper proposes how child-targeted programs may optimize impact on health outcomes

Health, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2009-06-05

What Can We Learn from Quebec's Universal Childcare Program?

C.D. Howe Institute

A 5-page Canadian analysis of the impact of Quebec's universal childcare programme on work choices, family functioning and children's well-being

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2006-02-04

A Positive Influence

Brotherhood of St. Laurence

The 39-page evaluation of an Australian pilot project aiming to assist parents to support their children's transition from school to work or further education

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2006-03-17

The Cottage Service for Highly Disadvantaged Children in Fitzroy: A Review

Brotherhood of St Laurence

This 69-page evaluation of the Cottage Centre for Families and Children shows that it was an effective model for assisting families with complex needs. Defining principles included early intervention, considering the child in the context of family and community; and treating parents as expert partners

Families, Children & Youth, Social PolicyPosted: 2009-01-22

Integrated Service Delivery for Young People: a Literature Review

Brotherhood of St Laurence

This 47-page Australian literature review examines youth centres and other programs which offer holistic or integrated youth services in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia, and considers supportive policy frameworks

Families, Children & Youth, Social PolicyPosted: 2010-09-23

Work-Family Conflict: Look to Employers and Communities for Solutions

Brookings, Princeton

An 8-page US policy brief offering recommendations for the relief of struggling working parents

Families, Children & Youth, Employment, Industrial Relations & Training Posted: 2011-10-11

The Effect of Investing in Early Education on Economic Growth

Brookings Institution

An 8-page US policy brief analyzing the impact of a high-quality universal pre-school policy on economic growth

Education, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2006-05-02

Middle East Youth Bulge: Challenge or Opportunity?

Brookings Institution

A US article addressing the economic development challenge facing the Middle East as a result of its youth bulge

Families, Children & Youth, Employment, Industrial Relations & Training Posted: 2008-05-27

Social Scientific Data on the Impact of Marriage and Divorce on Children

Brookings Institution

A 10-page testimony to a U.S. senate sub-committee, summarising research relevant to the merits of marriage promotion, from the standpoint of child welfare

Families, Children & Youth, Social PolicyPosted: 2004-05-19

Keeping Adolescents out of Prison

Brookings Institution

An 8-page US policy brief examining the problem of youth confinement in correctional facilities

Crime, Law & Order, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2008-10-24

Stalled Youth Transitions in the Middle East

Brookings Institution

A 44-page US report focusing on the role of markets and institutions in mediating youth transition in the Middle East

Families, Children & Youth, RegionalPosted: 2008-10-24

Foundation for Child Development Index of Child Well-Being 1975-2002

Brookings Institute (et al.)

This 21-page U.S. report provides the latest measure of child well-being and comments on trends

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-03-31

Investing in Young Children: New Directions in Federal Preschool and Early Childhood Policy

Brookings

This new 104-page US collection of papers issued assesses federal policies for early childhood education and child care, and includes ways to reform Head Start and other early education programs to make them better targeted, more effective, and provide better taxpayer bang-for-the buck in these tough fiscal times

Families, Children & Youth, EducationPosted: 2010-10-20

Youth Justice Conferences versus Children’s Court: A Comparison of Re-offending

BOSCAR

A 23-page Australian report finding that a programme designed to bring young offenders face to face with the victims of their crime and encourage them to accept responsibility for their offending is no more effective than a children’s court in reducing juvenile reoffending

Crime, Law & Order, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2012-03-20

Depression and Related Disorders -- Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder and Puerperal Psychosis -- in the Perinatal Period

beyondblue

This 128-page Australian report has been developed to assist health professionals in primary care and maternity care to identify and treat mental health problems in the perinatal period

Health, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2011-03-23

Youth in War-To-Peace Transitions: Approaches of International Organisations

Berghof Research Center

A 72-page study dealing with the role of youth in war-to-peace transitions and the response of international organisations to them

Families, Children & Youth, Disarmament & PeacekeepingPosted: 2004-12-26

CPS Involvement in Families with Social Fathers

Bendheim-Thoman Center for Research on Child Wellbeing, Princeton University

A 4-page US research brief examining associations between children’s exposure to a social father and child protection services involvement using a wider range of control variables than previous studies

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2010-03-28

The Role of Specialty Mental Health Courts in Meeting the Needs of Juvenile Offenders

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

A U.S. paper considering whether specialty mental health courts would be of benefit to juvenile offenders

Crime, Law & Order, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-12-02

Get It Together: How to Integrate Physical and Mental Health Care for People with Serious Mental Disorders

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

The 12-page executive summary of a report examining model programs for improving the integration and coordination of health services for adults and children with serious mental health disorders (full report purchasable from publisher)

Health, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-08-12

Making Prevention Work in Human Services for Children and Youth

Australian Review of Public Affairs

This 18-page Australian paper discusses both technical and theoretical critiques of prevention approaches to social problems, and argues for the need to develop new approaches to overcome them

Social Policy, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2011-07-21

The Science of Prevention for Children and Youth

Australian Review of Public Affairs

This 15-page Australian paper documents the potential of prevention and argues for prevention science as a framework for advancing a coherent, evidence-based approach to address the problems of Australian children and youth

Families, Children & Youth, Social PolicyPosted: 2011-08-23

Relationship Pressures on Australian Families: Some Implications for Psychologists

Australian Psychological Society

This Australian article seeks to explore some of the pressures on couples and families and sketches the implications for psychologists faced with addressing the growing prevalence of mental health problems and behavioural disorders

Health, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2011-03-16

Returning to Work Following Childbirth in Australia

Australian National University

This Australian paper examines changes in the timing of return to work by women after childbirth and the pattern of returns to work

Families, Children & Youth, Employment, Industrial Relations & Training Posted: 2005-02-15

Children with Disabilities in Australia

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

A 133-page Australian report providing an overview of children with disabilities, investigating their needs and circumstances and the services, benefits and assistance provided to them and their families

Disability, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-12-21

Female SAAP Clients and Children Escaping Domestic and Family Violence 2003-04

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

This 28-page Australian bulletin overviews data about females and accompanying children escaping domestic violence and accessing the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2005-10-06

Juvenile justice in Australia 2006-07

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

A 156-page report on young people in juvenile justice supervision in Australia. It includes information on the characteristics of young people in community-based supervision and detention in 2006-07 and the type and length of supervision they experience, as well as patterns of supervision over time and analyses of trends

Crime, Law & Order, Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2008-12-15

Key National Indicators of Children's Health, Development and Wellbeing

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

This 16-page bulletin describes the indicators being adopted by The Australian government for monitoring the health, development and wellbeing of the nation's children

Families, Children & Youth, HealthPosted: 2004-11-27

Adoptions Australia 2003-04

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

This 65-page Australian report provides adoption statistics and information on adopted children, adoptive families and birth mothers for the year 2003-04, together with 30-year trends

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2004-11-27

Adoptions Australia 2004-5

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

This 68-page Australian report on finalized adoptions includes data on adopted children, adoptive families and birth mothers

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2005-12-02

A Picture of Australia's Children

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

This 136-page Australian report synthesises a wide range of data on factors influencing the health, development and wellbeing of children in Australia

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2005-05-03

Child Protection Australia 2003-04

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

A 93-page Australian report providing data on child protection notifications, investigations and substantiations, children on care and protection orders and children in out-of-home care

Families, Children & YouthPosted: 2005-01-24