During recent years a significant change has occurred in child welfare policy in New South Wales as a large component of the government's substitute care program has been, or is in the process of being, shifted away from direct government provision to non-government agencies. Analysis of some aspects of the policy process by which this change has occurred illustrates the complexity of social policy development. In particular this analysis highlights the importance of the ideological and political context of child welfare policy development and the way in which this contributes to contradictions between official policy statements and policy as experienced by the recipients of the implementation of these policies.

The selection of foster parents with qualities necessary to undertake care of other people's children is a difficult task. Little research has been done in identifying what the associated qualities are. This paper reports the first stage of a research study examining these qualities from the perspective of foster parents themselves and experienced family care workers. From a qualitative exercise involving 10 foster parents and 2 family care workers over 50 nominated qualities were elicited covering motivation; personal attributes; knowledge and skills with children and competencies emanating from experience. Arising from this exercise a model was constructed which identifies stages in foster parenting. This could enable differential educational strategies based on a competency approach to be developed in order to achieve a better level of quality control.

This article argues that clear coordination structures are essential if collaboration around the complex needs of a small subcategory of seriously emotionally disturbed children and adolescents requiring multi-agency involvement is to be successful. A model of coordination which evolved out of a project conducted in the western suburbs of Melbourne during 1992-1993 is described. Although expensive to implement this model would be less costly than the current unsatisfactory situation where much time and effort is expended by a number of workers from a range of agencies, often for very little return.

Parenting Resource and Management (PRAM), a primary prevention program for first-time parents, was initiated in Melbourne in 1986. It was an adaptation of the American program, Minnesota Early Learning Design (MELD), utilising non-professional couples as leaders who were selected, trained and supported by professionals. The advantages of this program included cost effectiveness, a self-help emphasis and involvement of both parents. Difficulties in establishing the program will be discussed. The program was proactive, and intensive publicity to generate interest was required. Anonymous evaluation reports from the participants indicated a positive response, recognising that the program filled a significant gap in the existing community support structures.

How do children's service organisations survive and thrive in a contracting environment? This article lists some issues that have to be addressed and strategies that organisations employ to ensure that this takes place. The information in this article was acquired whilst undertaking research into contracting arrangements in children's services in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts in 1992. The research was the subject of an earlier article.

The ‘new’ American solution for abused and neglected children — Intensive Family Preservation Programs — are being heavily marketed to Australians. Victoria and New South Wales have enthusiastically embraced the idea with pilot programs based on American statistics proving its value in maintaining children with their families and improving their safety. No matter that the Americans themselves warned that evaluations showed that out of home placements rate was no higher for families that did not receive the program and that the programs came from a country whose own Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect described the child protection system as a ‘national emergency’.

Self-censorship is not a quality usually associated with the British tabloid press. The trial of Rosemary West, it is reported, led to a change of perspective, with sanitisation of the court-reporting being decided upon for commercial reasons. A recent book, on another widely-reported British case of child abuse and domestic violence, is reviewed to suggest that an understanding of the effects of violence on victims will be achieved only if we allow the whole stories to be told.