Abstract
This paper describes a study monitoring interventions with families treated by a welfare agency in Jerusalem, Israel. The treatment approach is eclectic and is based mainly on a view of the family as a system and on task-centred and problem solving orientations to family treatment. Sixty families were studied. The clients' median age was about 30 years old and the median number of children was two per family. The clients approached the welfare agency for four main reasons: financial difficulties (especially heavy debts), severe health problems and disabilities, marital difficulties, and problems in raising children. The practitioners identified in two thirds of the families dangerous situations that needed immediate attention.A repeated measures design utilizing several outcome measures was used. According to the workers' assessments, based on the CRS (Epstein et al., 1982), functioning improved and progress toward goal attainment was observed in most families. The magnitude of changes in functioning, however, was small. The workers' and clients' assessments of change and of goal attainment were more positive. There were indications of deterioration at follow up. The treatment outcomes are discussed in light of the client and treatment characteristics. Changes in client selection, length of treatment, and an active follow up strategy are suggested.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 143-155 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | British Journal of Social Work |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| State | Published - Apr 1991 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The project was partially funded by the Warburg Fund of the Joint Distribution Committee, Israel. The authors wish to acknowledge the co-operation of the staff at the Project for Young Families, especially Minda Garr's contribution. The helpful comments of the anonymous reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.