We start with an article provided by Greenlight on life assurance to safeguard families, to cover costs such as school and university.
The theme this month is the environment, both the world-wide environment and the immediate environment in which children are brought up.
- The Editorial considers some of the questions posed to child care.
- Jim Rose argues for creating the right culture if staff are to be able to help children to cope with their problems.
- Chris Durkin points out the importance of the community setting for children.
- Robert Shaw challenges social work in its focus on individual children, pointing out the significance of their environment
- Kathleen Lane compares her childhood with today in order to question which sort of environment which is best for children.
- We have a few more Young Vision 2020 contributions, in this case concerned about bush fires.
- Keith White is proposing the Hamlet Cigar Method for resolving problems.
- There are two chapters- 8 and 9– of A.J. Stone’s book, Beyond Caring, as the story becomes more graphic and darker.
- Merle Allsopp has sent details of an exciting Congress in South Africa in December, so that we can start planning our trip to Cape Town now.
- Nancy Hamilton has outlined her theme for the year – relationships – in her role as Social Care Association’s new President.
- David Lane has written about the SCA Annual Seminar and looked at its options.
- Ahead of the announcement of the General Election, the CCCF has contributed a survey of the political parties’ priorities for children.
- Joanne Binnington reports on a survey into the use of the internet by parents wanting nannies and nannies wanting jobs.
- There are two reviews of children’s books by George Lane – the award-winning Shadow Forest and its sequel, The Runaway Troll.
- Robert Shaw’s two Key Texts this month are concerned with foster care – Berridge & Cleaver, and Rowe, Hundleby and Garnett, offering good guidance to social workers placing children.
And News Views includes Residential Education / Care Day, South Africa, the age of criminal responsibility, CCCF and wellbeing, and secure accommodation.