Bibliographies

The following bibliography has been compiled from the Australian Family & Society Abstracts database and other resources held in the Institute's library. Where available a link to the document on the Web is provided. Most items can be borrowed from the Institute's library via the interlibrary loan system. Online publications in PDF format require Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Updated May 2010

Community influences

 

Does it take a village? Neighbourhood influences on young children’ development. (2007)

Dr Ben Edwards' presentation in which he presented findings from his research into neighbourhood influences on Australian children’s development.

 

Early childhood centres and family resilience (PDF 889 KB).
Duncan, Judith; Bowden, Chris; Smith, Anne B
Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Social Development, 2006, 104p, tables, figures, Online

This report describes the main findings of the Early Childhood Centres and Family Resilience Study. The aim of the study was to determine whether families, staff from early childhood (EC) centres, and advisory support agencies perceived EC centres to be making a difference to families. It looked at the policies and strategies of EC centres that had supported family resilience and helped them to cope with challenging and stressful times. The study also examined how centres encouraged the development of social capital by helping families to establish supportive networks and relationships with other sources of support. Methods used were a literature review on resilient families and risk and protective factors affecting them, and qualitative research involving families, EC staff and staff from advisory support and social agencies; an ecological model is developed.

 

Early childhood development and education.
Edgar, D
Melbourne, Vic: Australian Fabian Society, 2002, AFS Autumn Lectures 2002: Fixing the Foundations: Early Childhood Development and Education, Online only

In this paper presented at the Australian Fabian Society's Autumn Lectures 2002, the author argues for wider community involvement in and responsibility for child rearing and child development. He first makes the point that early intervention is best considered as action taken as soon as possible after the initial manifestation of a problem, rather than action that must occur in early childhood. After discussing the types of family relations and child care arrangements likely to have a positive effect on child development, he then emphasises the role of educators and the community in supporting parental child rearing. He regards child development as part of society's responsibility to the individual and as a way of ensuring that in return children will grow to make positive contributions to their communities.

 

Families and neighbourhoods (PDF 288 KB). (2007)
Claire James and Sally Gimson, Family and Parenting Institute

The report outlines the findings of a UK survey of 2,105 parents about their neighbourhoods. While parents reported generally positive views about their neighbours and the neighbourhoods in which they lived, the effects of socioeconomic inequality were clear. The authors make several policy recommendations to address issues such as the need to focus on communities as well as individuals and families, engaging young people, the need for safe and affordable facilities and services, and the differing needs of urban and rural families and communities.

 

Families as a context for children.
Bowes, Jennifer; Watson, Johanna
In: Bowes, J.M. ed. Children, families and communities: contexts and consequences. South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press, 2nd ed., 2004, p91-115

Families have a major impact on most children's lives, influencing their developing patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour in a number of direct and indirect ways. This chapter considers the influence of families in their community contexts on the development of children. It explores what families are like, how families operate, and how families are connected to communities. It discusses the influence of parenting on children and families as contexts for children.

 

Focus on families: Reinforcing the importance of family (PDF 739 KB).
Stevens, Katie; Dickson, Marny; Poland, Michelle; Prasad, Rajen
Wellington, NZ: Families Commission, 2005, 78p, figures (Research report no.4/05), and Online

What are the factors that contribute to successful outcomes for families with dependent children? This report summarises the literature on this topic and presents results of a large scale focus group study, carried out in New Zealand, which explored the characteristics of family well being as defined by families themselves. It considers conceptual issues in successful family outcomes and discusses the following findings: living as a family; relationships between family members; family related skills and capabilities; the organisation of family time; success for children; friendship networks; neighbours and neighbourhoods; ethnic communities; religious and spiritually based communities; uptake of services; employment conditions; work life balance; public policy and family supports; parenting advice and programs; primary, secondary and tertiary education; health services; housing affordability; transport; income, tax and social assistance; families in society; societal values and expectations; cultural and spiritual values and expectations; and social exclusion.

 

Neighbourhood influences on children.
Prior, Margot
In: Richardson, S. and Prior, M. eds. No time to lose: the well-being of Australia's children. Carlton, Vic: Melbourne University Press, 2005, p201-228

Neighbourhoods and communities that children grow up in make a difference to learning and psychosocial outcomes for young people. This chapter discusses challenges faced when conducting research on neighbourhood effects, neighbourhood definition, types of disadvantage and the complexity of indicators and effects. It then explores neighbourhood influences on child development, looking at intelligence and educational outcomes, social and emotional outcomes, parenting, parental perceptions of neighbourhoods, poverty and parenting, facilities and role models, youth monitoring strategies, resource seeking strategies, in home learning strategies and educational contexts. The chapter reports on observations from planned community or neighbourhood based interventions in the USA and some Australian data on neighbourhood interventions.

 

Stopping to smell the flowers: Putting the community back into childcare.
Donahoo, Daniel
Rattler no.74 Winter 2005: 20-22

Many children are now cared for by community based child care centres. This article asks how relevant the community aspect of the title is. It considers what community involvement really means, suggesting that it includes taking the children out into their community to experience and observe different ways that people live.