Robyn Munford is Head of the School of Sociology, Social Work and Social Policy at Massey University. She has published widely on social and community work and disability studies, and her research on families has gained international recognition.
Foreword. Bridging the science-services gap: the critical role of cross-national perspectives in child and family policy and practice. James K. Whittaker, University of Washington, USA.; Part 1. Evaluating outcomes for children and families: Improving the evidence base.; 1. Improving the evidence base. Anthony N. Maluccio, University of Connecticut, USA, Cinzia Canali, Fondazione Zancan, Italy, Tiziano Vecchiato, Fondazione Zancan, Italy, Anita Lightburn, Fordham University, USA, Jane Aldgate, Open University, UK and Wendy Rose, Open University, UK.; 2. Demystifying evidence in child welfare. Nina Biehal, University of York, UK.; 3. Unlocking the mysteries of program evaluation: Lessons from a comprehensive evaluation of an innovative program to reunify families. Barbara A. Pine and Robin Spath, University of Connecticut, USA.; Part 2. Methods for finding and using evidence.; 4. Evaluating complexity in community-based programs. Anita Lightburn and Chris Warren-Adamson, University of Southampton, UK.; 5. Approaches to evaluation in services for families and children. Cinzia Canali, Anthony N. Maluccio and Tiziano Vecchiato.; 6. Understanding the nature, structure and context of services in family support centres. Marianne Berry, University of Kansas, USA and Colleen Reed, University of Denver, USA.; 7. In their own words: Alumni of foster care in the US talk about preparation for independent living. Anne Nicoll, University of Washington, USA, Kate E. Holmes, Peter J. Pecora, Catherine Roller White, Kirk O'Brien, Casey Family Programs, USA, and Arron K. Fain, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, USA.; 8. The challenge of using administrative data in cross-national evaluations of services in out-of-home care. June Thoburn, University of East Anglia, UK.; Part 3. Evaluating outcomes in the real world: International evidence from community-based practice.; 9. Taking standardised programs to different cultural contexts - an example from Scotland. Jane Aldgate and Wendy Rose.; 10. Child physical abuse and neglect: risk assessment and evaluation of early prevention programmes. Hans Grietens, University of Leuven, Belgium.; 11. Identifying outcomes at the Sunshine Family Centre in outer London. Marian Brandon, University of East Anglia, UK.; 12. The important place of professional relationship: A case study of an Israeli family. Anat Zeira, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.; 13. Evaluation of sensitised practice in a community centre in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Robyn Munford, Massey University, New Zealand, Jackie Sanders, Massey University, New Zealand and Bruce Maden, Te Aroha Noa Community Services, New Zealand.; 14. Assessing practice in a child and family centre in Australia. Patricia M. McNamara, La Trobe University, Australia. Afterword. Cross national perspectives and ideas. Mark Ezell, University of Kansas, USA. References. List of contributors. Index.
In conclusion, the articles in the book are a collection of research and journal articles from international academics. The targeted audience of this book would be the practitioner who is keen to embark on research or the worker who wishes to read more about international evidence from other countries... there are some interesting policy perspectives from other countries which practitioners might consider advocating in the New Zealand context with the hope that such policies might improve the wellbeing of children and their families.
