Nelson et al. (2000)
Applying a family-
ecosystemic model to
reunite a family separated
due to child abuse: a case
study
7 family (mother and 5
children)
African American
• Unemployment
• Child abuse∕neglect
• Poor health outcomes
mother was HIV+
• Substance misuse
• Family breakdown
(looked after
children, temporary
accommodation)
(one child in foster care)
• Socio-economic
deprivation
Mother: African American, had successfully completed residential drug treatment,
was HIV+ but her health was good and she did not suffer from any physical symptoms.
She received social security benefits, did not work, and lived in a two-bedroomed
government subsidised apartment. She had a long history of parenting difficulties due
to substance abuse, and had often lived apart from her children. She, herself, had an
unstable childhood (she had been raised by her father after her mother walked out on
the family; she had smoked crack cocaine at age 14, and had her first child at age 16).
Children (N=5): 12 year old daughter
22 year old son
other adult son (in prison)
eldest daughter (conflictual relationship with mother)
The fifth child, a daughter, had been state custody for 5 years. She was aged 17, but
acted like a 12 year old because of her developmental disability. She had problem
behaviours such as running away frequently and sexual promiscuity. She was removed
from the home because of abuse and neglect (she had three concurrent sexually
transmitted diseases).
Nixon et al. (2006 )
Interim evaluation of
rehabilitation projects for
families at risk of losing
their homes as a result of
anti-social behaviour
99 families containing 131
adults and 259 children
94% white British (others
black Caribbean, mixed,
'other’)
• Unemployment
• Anti-social behaviour
• Exclusion/non-
attendance at school
• Criminal Convictions
• Child abuse∕neglect
• Poor health outcomes
• Substance misuse
• Mental health problems
• Family breakdown
(looked after
children, temporary
accommodation)
• Socio-economic
deprivation
• Poor quality of physical
environment
• Domestic violence
"Service users were characterised as having multiple and inter-related support needs
that had been manifest over a long period of time.
• Problems connected with children’s schooling affected just under half (46%) of all
families and in a quarter (25%) of families one or more child was reported as having
special educational needs such as ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia.
• III health represented a further set of difficulties faced by many families. In 39%
of families one or more member of the household were identified as having mental
health problems, most commonly depression related illnesses. Substance abuse fuelled
neighbour problems in 27% of families where there were reported to be drug or alcohol
related problems. Further, members of more than one in five families were affected by
chronic physical ill health such as asthma.
• High levels of family violence were noted, with violence in the home affecting over a
quarter of families (28%). Violence was not always perpetrated by adult family members
and in a number of cases it was reported that teenage children had assaulted their
mothers.” (p 6)
Appendix 4 Summary of in-depth studies 47