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• 1. [Article] Parent Dilemmas and Solutions: Perspectives on Work-Family Fit

  The Support for Working Caregivers Project is designed to study the ways in which employed parents whose children have emotional or behavioral disorders fit their work and family responsibilities together. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Parent Dilemmas and Solutions: Perspectives on Work-Family Fit Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Ogilvie, Alice Myrth, Ward, Ann Year: 2000 The Support for Working Caregivers Project is designed to study the ways in which employed parents whose children have emotional or behavioral disorders fit their work and family responsibilities together. To that end, project investigators have developed a research model of work-family fit by means of an exhaustive literature review of over 350 articles and books on work and family, the secondary data analysis of the North Carolina Family Caregiver Survey (Brennan & Poertner, 1997), and a focus group study with 41 employed parents of children with emotional or behavioral disorders (Rosenzweig, Brennan, & Ogilvie, 1998). The work-family fit research model includes as antecedent conditions (a) types and characteristics of parental employment, (b) types and characteristics of the children’s educational and child care arrangements, (c) the social support available to family members, and (d) family household characteristics. The outcomes featured in the model encompass (a) parent stress levels, (b) employment absenteeism, (c) work interuptions and tardiness, and (d) difficulty combining work and family life. The model also contains such intervening variables as the strategies parents use to balance work and family demands and the services they use. Currently, pilot interviews are being conducted with 60 family members who are employed at least 30 hours per week and who have children living in the home between the ages of 6 and 18 years who have emotional or behavioral disorders. Title: Parent Dilemmas and Solutions: Perspectives on Work-Family Fit Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Ogilvie, Alice Myrth, Ward, Ann Year: 2000 The Support for Working Caregivers Project is designed to study the ways in which employed parents whose children have emotional or behavioral disorders fit their work and family responsibilities together. To that end, project investigators have developed a research model of work-family fit by means of an exhaustive literature review of over 350 articles and books on work and family, the secondary data analysis of the North Carolina Family Caregiver Survey (Brennan & Poertner, 1997), and a focus group study with 41 employed parents of children with emotional or behavioral disorders (Rosenzweig, Brennan, & Ogilvie, 1998). The work-family fit research model includes as antecedent conditions (a) types and characteristics of parental employment, (b) types and characteristics of the children’s educational and child care arrangements, (c) the social support available to family members, and (d) family household characteristics. The outcomes featured in the model encompass (a) parent stress levels, (b) employment absenteeism, (c) work interuptions and tardiness, and (d) difficulty combining work and family life. The model also contains such intervening variables as the strategies parents use to balance work and family demands and the services they use. Currently, pilot interviews are being conducted with 60 family members who are employed at least 30 hours per week and who have children living in the home between the ages of 6 and 18 years who have emotional or behavioral disorders. Close

• 2. [Article] Finding a Fit Between Work and Family Life: Support for Working Caregivers

  This article examines the ways in which families with employed caregivers and children with emotional and behavioral disorders manage to meet the demands of employment and family responsibilities. Finding ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Finding a Fit Between Work and Family Life: Support for Working Caregivers Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Ogilvie, Alice Myrth Year: 1999 This article examines the ways in which families with employed caregivers and children with emotional and behavioral disorders manage to meet the demands of employment and family responsibilities. Finding a fit between the demands of work and family life is a struggle for every employed mother and father. For parents whose children have emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders, meeting this challenge can prove extremely stressful, particularly since supportive services are notably lacking. There has been little research on the perceptions of employed parents of children with mental health concerns about the ways in which work and family responsibilities can fit together. This article reports the findings from a study which addressed the strategies and services the parents employed to make these adaptations work in six major domains: employment, child care, education, transportation, financial assistance, and household tasks and management. Title: Finding a Fit Between Work and Family Life: Support for Working Caregivers Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Ogilvie, Alice Myrth Year: 1999 This article examines the ways in which families with employed caregivers and children with emotional and behavioral disorders manage to meet the demands of employment and family responsibilities. Finding a fit between the demands of work and family life is a struggle for every employed mother and father. For parents whose children have emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders, meeting this challenge can prove extremely stressful, particularly since supportive services are notably lacking. There has been little research on the perceptions of employed parents of children with mental health concerns about the ways in which work and family responsibilities can fit together. This article reports the findings from a study which addressed the strategies and services the parents employed to make these adaptations work in six major domains: employment, child care, education, transportation, financial assistance, and household tasks and management. Close

• 3. [Article] Toward a Model of Work and Family Balance: How Families with Children Having Serious Emotional Disorders Manage Caregiving and Worklife

  Employed parents of children with serious emotional disorders must manage the competing demands of home and job. Although every situation is unique, all parents cope daily with the interface between employment ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Toward a Model of Work and Family Balance: How Families with Children Having Serious Emotional Disorders Manage Caregiving and Worklife Author: Rosenzweig, Julie M., Ogilvie, Alice Myrth, Brennan, Eileen M. Year: 1998 Employed parents of children with serious emotional disorders must manage the competing demands of home and job. Although every situation is unique, all parents cope daily with the interface between employment and home. As the number of single employed mothers and dual-worker households has increased, so has the research on work and family. A review of this literature offers an examination of the different ways work and family relate within the busy lives of employed parents. Three primary models emerge from the review that describe experiences of mothers and fathers challenged by meeting both the needs of family members and the responsibilities of work-life. The literature does not identify whether or not the parents have children with any special needs. This review serves as a foundation for research that will specifically focus on parents of children with serious emotional disorders. Title: Toward a Model of Work and Family Balance: How Families with Children Having Serious Emotional Disorders Manage Caregiving and Worklife Author: Rosenzweig, Julie M., Ogilvie, Alice Myrth, Brennan, Eileen M. Year: 1998 Employed parents of children with serious emotional disorders must manage the competing demands of home and job. Although every situation is unique, all parents cope daily with the interface between employment and home. As the number of single employed mothers and dual-worker households has increased, so has the research on work and family. A review of this literature offers an examination of the different ways work and family relate within the busy lives of employed parents. Three primary models emerge from the review that describe experiences of mothers and fathers challenged by meeting both the needs of family members and the responsibilities of work-life. The literature does not identify whether or not the parents have children with any special needs. This review serves as a foundation for research that will specifically focus on parents of children with serious emotional disorders. Close

• 4. [Article] A Professional's Guide to Supporting Families of Children with Mental Health Disorders

  PDF version of a presentation given at Building on Family Strengths: Research and Services in Support of Children and their Families, Portland, OR, June 2009.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Professional's Guide to Supporting Families of Children with Mental Health Disorders Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Malsch, Anna M., Stewart, Lisa Maureen, Mills, Kayti Year: 2009 PDF version of a presentation given at Building on Family Strengths: Research and Services in Support of Children and their Families, Portland, OR, June 2009. Title: A Professional's Guide to Supporting Families of Children with Mental Health Disorders Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Malsch, Anna M., Stewart, Lisa Maureen, Mills, Kayti Year: 2009 PDF version of a presentation given at Building on Family Strengths: Research and Services in Support of Children and their Families, Portland, OR, June 2009. Close

• 5. [Article] Where Professional Meets Personal: A Curriculum to Improve Conversations Between Human Resource Professionals and Employed Parents

  PDF version of a presentation given at Building on Family Strengths: Research and Services in Support of Children and their Families. Portland, OR, June 2009.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Where Professional Meets Personal: A Curriculum to Improve Conversations Between Human Resource Professionals and Employed Parents Author: Rosenzweig, Julie M., Malsch, Anna M., Brennan, Eileen M., Stewart, Lisa Maureen, Mills, Kathryn L. Year: 2009 PDF version of a presentation given at Building on Family Strengths: Research and Services in Support of Children and their Families. Portland, OR, June 2009. Title: Where Professional Meets Personal: A Curriculum to Improve Conversations Between Human Resource Professionals and Employed Parents Author: Rosenzweig, Julie M., Malsch, Anna M., Brennan, Eileen M., Stewart, Lisa Maureen, Mills, Kathryn L. Year: 2009 PDF version of a presentation given at Building on Family Strengths: Research and Services in Support of Children and their Families. Portland, OR, June 2009. Close

• 6. [Article] Parents as Navigators: How Caregivers of Children with Mental Health Difficulties find Supports in the Workplace

  For some parents, the gap between the demands of work and family and the resources they have available to meet these responsibilities is too great, particularly for employed parents of children with emotional ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Parents as Navigators: How Caregivers of Children with Mental Health Difficulties find Supports in the Workplace Author: Huffstutter, Katherine J., Bradley, Jennifer R., Brennan, Eileen M., Penn, Marlene, Rosenzweig, Julie M. Year: 2007 For some parents, the gap between the demands of work and family and the resources they have available to meet these responsibilities is too great, particularly for employed parents of children with emotional or behavioral disorders (Brennan & Brannan, 2005). While responding to the increasing demands of the workplace for dedicated performance and significant facetime, parents must also arrange for their children's treatment, see that their educational needs are met, and provide enrichment opportunities in the community (Huang et al., 2005). Despite challenges, these parents have used creative approaches to "cobble together" flexible arrangements that work for both their families and employers (Rosenzweig, Brennan, & Ogilvie 2002). We report the results of six focus groups of employed parents of children with mental health difficulties. This research was conducted as part of a federally funded five-year research project investigating work-life integration for this group of families. Title: Parents as Navigators: How Caregivers of Children with Mental Health Difficulties find Supports in the Workplace Author: Huffstutter, Katherine J., Bradley, Jennifer R., Brennan, Eileen M., Penn, Marlene, Rosenzweig, Julie M. Year: 2007 For some parents, the gap between the demands of work and family and the resources they have available to meet these responsibilities is too great, particularly for employed parents of children with emotional or behavioral disorders (Brennan & Brannan, 2005). While responding to the increasing demands of the workplace for dedicated performance and significant facetime, parents must also arrange for their children's treatment, see that their educational needs are met, and provide enrichment opportunities in the community (Huang et al., 2005). Despite challenges, these parents have used creative approaches to "cobble together" flexible arrangements that work for both their families and employers (Rosenzweig, Brennan, & Ogilvie 2002). We report the results of six focus groups of employed parents of children with mental health difficulties. This research was conducted as part of a federally funded five-year research project investigating work-life integration for this group of families. Close

• 7. [Article] Access to Child Care for Children with Emotional or Behavioral Challenges: An Essential Element of Family Support

  Parents don't always feel they can disclose the special needs of their children to other families or even caregivers unless it is obvious they have had the training and skills to handle the situation. ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Access to Child Care for Children with Emotional or Behavioral Challenges: An Essential Element of Family Support Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Malsch, Anna M., Huffstutter, Katherine J., Stewart, Lisa Maureen, Conley, John Year: 2007 Parents don't always feel they can disclose the special needs of their children to other families or even caregivers unless it is obvious they have had the training and skills to handle the situation. They also may not disclose their children's special needs to their employer, unless difficulties arranging and keeping child care make disclosure necessary. Major policy issue but unknown to public because many families do not disclose. Reality is that 1 in 5 families have a child with special needs. Research implications---parents develop strategies to keep their jobs and keep child care. Parents often have to choose between keeping their jobs or accessing services because health care and mental health services are often available only during working hours. Research findings are that children are not accepted for child care due to their special needs; and if a provider does enroll them, parents are called often at work to handle child care problems, disrupting their work. Considering expulsion from child care: 1/4 parents asked to remove their child for behavioral issues vs. 1/10 for physical issues. Some families try to handle child care by tag-team parenting, and attempt to rearrange their work schedules so that they can care for the child at home. Nearly 20% of US children have emotional or behavioral problems which provide unique challenges to access services, keep up with regular school, or make transportation arrangements. Work-family integration problems are particularly acute for parents having children with emotional or behavioral challenges; 48% of parents of children with emotional or behavioral problems had to quit work at some time to care for their children at home. Children with behavioral needs are 20% more likely to be expelled from child care, than children without those challenges. The ideal situation for families that have children with special needs may be inclusive child care arrangements. Inclusion consultants and mental health consultants should be supporting the workers who need to gain strategies and knowledge so that care providers and parents have honesty in communication as partners, and then the care givers can assist and support the children and families. Title: Access to Child Care for Children with Emotional or Behavioral Challenges: An Essential Element of Family Support Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Malsch, Anna M., Huffstutter, Katherine J., Stewart, Lisa Maureen, Conley, John Year: 2007 Parents don't always feel they can disclose the special needs of their children to other families or even caregivers unless it is obvious they have had the training and skills to handle the situation. They also may not disclose their children's special needs to their employer, unless difficulties arranging and keeping child care make disclosure necessary. Major policy issue but unknown to public because many families do not disclose. Reality is that 1 in 5 families have a child with special needs. Research implications---parents develop strategies to keep their jobs and keep child care. Parents often have to choose between keeping their jobs or accessing services because health care and mental health services are often available only during working hours. Research findings are that children are not accepted for child care due to their special needs; and if a provider does enroll them, parents are called often at work to handle child care problems, disrupting their work. Considering expulsion from child care: 1/4 parents asked to remove their child for behavioral issues vs. 1/10 for physical issues. Some families try to handle child care by tag-team parenting, and attempt to rearrange their work schedules so that they can care for the child at home. Nearly 20% of US children have emotional or behavioral problems which provide unique challenges to access services, keep up with regular school, or make transportation arrangements. Work-family integration problems are particularly acute for parents having children with emotional or behavioral challenges; 48% of parents of children with emotional or behavioral problems had to quit work at some time to care for their children at home. Children with behavioral needs are 20% more likely to be expelled from child care, than children without those challenges. The ideal situation for families that have children with special needs may be inclusive child care arrangements. Inclusion consultants and mental health consultants should be supporting the workers who need to gain strategies and knowledge so that care providers and parents have honesty in communication as partners, and then the care givers can assist and support the children and families. Close

• 8. [Article] Families Challenged by Children's Mental Health: Employment and Community Integration

  Slides of a presentation given to the conference 'Work, Stress, and Health 2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace' held in Miami, FL, in 2006.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Families Challenged by Children's Mental Health: Employment and Community Integration Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Huffstutter, Katherine J., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Bradley, Jennifer R. Year: 2006 Slides of a presentation given to the conference 'Work, Stress, and Health 2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace' held in Miami, FL, in 2006. Title: Families Challenged by Children's Mental Health: Employment and Community Integration Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Huffstutter, Katherine J., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Bradley, Jennifer R. Year: 2006 Slides of a presentation given to the conference 'Work, Stress, and Health 2006: Making a Difference in the Workplace' held in Miami, FL, in 2006. Close

• 9. [Article] Supporting Families including Children with Disabilities: A Curriculum Module on Community Integration

  PDF version of a presentation given at the Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 2008.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Supporting Families including Children with Disabilities: A Curriculum Module on Community Integration Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Stewart, Lisa Maureen Year: 2008 PDF version of a presentation given at the Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 2008. Title: Supporting Families including Children with Disabilities: A Curriculum Module on Community Integration Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Rosenzweig, Julie M., Stewart, Lisa Maureen Year: 2008 PDF version of a presentation given at the Annual Program Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Philadelphia, PA, Oct. 2008. Close

• 10. [Article] Inclusive Child Care: Challenges and Strategies

  Responding to the need for research regarding models of inclusion in child care, the Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health is in the process of conducting a series ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Inclusive Child Care: Challenges and Strategies Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Caplan, Elizabeth Haran, Ama, Shane, Bradley, Jennifer R., Warfield, Olivia Year: 2002 Responding to the need for research regarding models of inclusion in child care, the Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health is in the process of conducting a series of studies aimed at guiding the design and implementation of inclusive child care policies and programs. In the course of previous research studies, our research team found that there did exist quality programs and family care arrangements that successfully included children with emotional or behavioral challenges in child care settings (Brennan, Rosenzweig, Ogilvie, Wuest, & Ward, 2001). Our goal was to learn more about the provider and setting characteristics associated with these successful programs. As a first step in the current research, state child care administrators, child care resource and referral agencies, and family organizations were sent a request to nominate programs that successfully included children with emotional or behavioral challenges in child care; this resulted in nominations of 104 programs across the United States. Personnel at thirty-four of the nominated programs participated in a survey designed to learn more about their challenges and strategies for inclusion. We were particularly interested in five key areas: (1) the types of services these programs offered, (2) the needs of the families they served, (3) the inclusion strategies they employed, (4) the barriers staff reported facing, and (5) their view of the role of families in their programs. Title: Inclusive Child Care: Challenges and Strategies Author: Brennan, Eileen M., Caplan, Elizabeth Haran, Ama, Shane, Bradley, Jennifer R., Warfield, Olivia Year: 2002 Responding to the need for research regarding models of inclusion in child care, the Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health is in the process of conducting a series of studies aimed at guiding the design and implementation of inclusive child care policies and programs. In the course of previous research studies, our research team found that there did exist quality programs and family care arrangements that successfully included children with emotional or behavioral challenges in child care settings (Brennan, Rosenzweig, Ogilvie, Wuest, & Ward, 2001). Our goal was to learn more about the provider and setting characteristics associated with these successful programs. As a first step in the current research, state child care administrators, child care resource and referral agencies, and family organizations were sent a request to nominate programs that successfully included children with emotional or behavioral challenges in child care; this resulted in nominations of 104 programs across the United States. Personnel at thirty-four of the nominated programs participated in a survey designed to learn more about their challenges and strategies for inclusion. We were particularly interested in five key areas: (1) the types of services these programs offered, (2) the needs of the families they served, (3) the inclusion strategies they employed, (4) the barriers staff reported facing, and (5) their view of the role of families in their programs. Close