Engaging Families (Special issue of Perspectives on Practice).

This issue of a newsletter for child welfare workers in Colorado describes strategies for developing a rapport with families from other cultures, fathers, and teens. The articles review the importance of client-worker collaboration to the success of assessments and services. Professionals who are working with culturally diverse families are advised to learn about values and experiences from a variety of resources, including parents themselves. Cultural differences should be respected and integrated into treatment when appropriate. Techniques for including fathers in casework include identifying reasons for lack of participation, using materials that specifically address the role of fathers, and helping mothers and children to recognize the contributions of fathers. Workers also should focus on improving their relationships with teens by understanding current slang terminology.