In Choosing to Care, Kyle E. Ciani examines the long history of interactions between parents and social reformers from diverse backgrounds in the development of social welfare programs, particularly childcare, in San Diego, California. Ciani explores how a variety of people--from destitute parents and tired guardians to benevolent advocates and professional social workers--connected over childcare concerns in a city that experienced tremendous demographic changes caused by urbanization, immigration, and the growth of a local U.S. military infrastructure from 1850 to 1950. Choosing to Care examines four significant areas where San Diego's programs were distinct from, and contributed to, the national childcare agenda: the importance of the transnational U.S.-Mexico border relationship in creating effective childcare programs; the development of vocational education to curtail juvenile delinquency; the promotion of nursery school education; and the advancement of an emergency daycare program during the Great Depression and World War II. Ciani shows how children from families in unstable situations, especially children from Native American, Asian, Mexican-descent, African American, and impoverished Anglo families, challenged a social reform system that defined care as both social control and behavioral regulation. Choosing to Care incorporates a broader definition of childcare to include efforts by governmental and organizational bodies and persons to maintain and nurture the physical, mental, and social health and development of minors when parents and guardians cannot do so. It offers a more complex understanding of how multiple avenues and resources established social welfare in San Diego and other West Coast cities.

There are great rewards that come along with being a foster parent, yet there are also great challenges that can leave you feeling depleted, alone, and discouraged. The many burdens of a foster parent's day--hurting children, struggling biological parents, and a broken system--are only compounded by the many burdens of a foster parent's heart--confusion, anxiety, heartache, anger, and fear. With the compassion and insight of a fellow foster parent, Jamie C. Finn helps you see your struggles through the lens of the gospel, bringing biblical truths to bear on your unique everyday realities. In these short, easy-to-read chapters, you'll find honest, personal stories and practical lessons that provide encouragement and direction from God's Word as you walk the journey of foster parenting.

Here's vital information on making the right recruitment choices, getting the best staff, and avoiding potential abusers! More than a set of procedures, good staff selection practice is about a set of principles that embody particular attitudes to the task. If we achieve these basic principles, we will go a long way towards eliminating selection errors and the risk of abuse that follows such errors. Author Meredith Kiraly Residential Child Care Staff Selection: Choose With Care draws upon international research and the experience of practitioners to help you improve your ability to recruit the best staff. With a minimum of jargon, this book covers the range of selection methods and advocates a consideredbut not cumbersomeapproach that uses more than one method of assessing skills. It illustrates management techniques that reduce the likelihood of abuse and will show you how to avoid recruiting potentially abusive individuals. Residential Child Care Staff Selection: Choose With Care provides insightful background information, examining the developmental needs of children; issues in the care of children away from home; abuse and pedophilia; and legal and ethical issues. Then the book discusses in more detail research findings which underpin key principles of good care and good staff selection, and best practice in a range of recruitment and selection practices. You'll also find a recruitment guide for all organizations that work with children and young people. The recruitment guide thoroughly examines the challenges and pitfalls of the recruitment process and will help you identify those who are most fit for this difficult yet extraordinarily rewarding career, and avoid recruiting those most likely to be abusive. This valuable book also includes four helpful appendixes that provide: examples of situational and behavioral questions to use in interviews Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable interview questions a profile of a skilled residential child care worker that you can use to judge whether candidates measure up sample staff selection formsjob descriptions, application form, a short-listing grid, job interview schedule, interview performance rating form, a reference check proforma, and a selection report

Who doesn’t wish to share his or her home with a cage full of “Furry Mongolian Friends” aka gerbils!? Author Susan Anastasi certain does! She describes these irresistible critters as “quiet, clean, friendly, curious, active, and easy-to-please.” In deciding whether the gerbil is for you, Anastasi offers this advice: “If you are looking for a seemingly limitless cache of cuteness—from their long, fanning whiskers and large almond-shaped eyes to heir bunnylike hind legs and tufted tail tips—then gerbils are for you!” Clearly bitten by the gerbil bug, the author begins by providing some basic natural history about gerbils, their origins on the Mongolian range, and an overview of their behaviors. Anastasi defends her favorite pocket pet and asserts that the gentle gerbil does not deserve its Latin name (Meriones ungiculatus), which translates as “clawed warrior.” Filled with terrific color photographs, Gerbils summarizes the basic needs of these adorable rodents, specifically addressing their housing requirements, the cost and commitment involved, and their interactions with children and other pets. The following are devoted to purchasing a healthy gerbil from a pet shop, hobby breeder, or shelter; introducing the gerbil to the home; housing and feeding; taming and handling the pet gerbil; health considerations and potential household hazards; breeding and raising the young; and exhibiting gerbils at shows. The discussion on housing covers the selection of the ideal enclosure, basic housing setup, accessories, safety, and a guide to cleaning the tank. The chapter “Taming and Handling Your Gerbils” offers a step-by-step socialization process to acclimate the gerbil to its new handler and surroundings plus instructions for handling the gerbil and discouraging nipping. All keepers will be interested in the chapter on keeping gerbils healthy through smart preventative care; topics covered include allergies; broken limbs and head injury; teeth, tail, and ear problems; dehydration; diarrhea; heat stroke; hypothermia; mites, and more. Gerbil enthusiasts who are looking to become gerbil midwives will find complete instructions for breeding and raising pups (baby gerbils) in the chapter about reproduction. It covers planning a litter, setting up a breeding tank, mating, caring for the pregnant mom, birthing, fostering, growth cycles, weaning, handling pups, and more. The chapter “Fun with Gerbils” offers ideas for games, art projects, photographing, and training gerbils to do seven fun tricks. Resources include lists of publications, clubs, organizations, and websites. Glossary of terms and index included.

Choosing a care home is one of the more emotional and expensive decisions that anyone ever has to make. You may be unprepared, inexperienced, under time pressure and in an emotional whirlwind. This book is designed to cut through this noise and offer clear, practical advice for anyone who has to make this crucial decision. Professor June Andrews looks at everything that you need to know, from first deciding whether care is needed for someone, to choosing a care home, to what happens next. She offers honest and sensible information about costs, quality of care and accommodation, and examines the finer details of what you might consider, such as food, décor, medical services and religious arrangements. A good care home is a reward for a life well spent, and providing that care is a joy for the people who do it well. Avoiding the pitfalls, and finding the right place is the first step.

As the age of the population is rising, so is the demand for homes where frail, elderly and others who are unable to look after themselves can be offered long term care. This text presents practical advice on how to plan this critically important move and ensure that it works well for all concerned. CONTENTS: 1. Assessing your relative 2. Requirements 3. Types of residential care 4. Finances 5. Gathering knowledge 6. Facilities 7. Second visit 8. Prior to admission 9. Moving in 10. Overcoming difficulties 11. Food and drink 12. New faces 13. This and that!

According to AARP, the majority of adult children (88%) and older adults (75%) spend time thinking about [parental] aging, and what that may mean for the family.When an aging parent falls or has a sudden health crisis, the majority of adult children or family members are unprepared to help with new medical care requirements and in-home support needs. It¿s not like aging parents come with a care manual.Why We Care is a special book- part guide book on how to choose a home health care agency as told by agency owners, combined with heartwarming stories of how families just like yours, were able to help loved ones stay in their home and age in place, with dignity and grace. Finding the right home health care agency for your loved ones, and dealing with the realities of their declining health is not easy. The authors have all been in your shoes, and created this book to help you make sense of it all.