Political choice and the child labor statute of 1938: Public interest or interest group legislation?

Federal regulation of child labor (unlike that passed in early nineteenth century England) did not materialize until the New Deal of the 1930s. The present paper examines, using anecdotal and empirical evidence, the motives underlying the passage of depression-based child labor legislation embodied in the Senate vote on the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Our study, which utilizes both dichotomous and trichotomous probit models of the vote, finds evidence that there were critical and dominantprivate as opposed to public interests behind the restrictions that the FLSA placed on child labor and the exemptions that it established.     

Assessment and Intervention with Parents to Stabilize Children Who Have Witnessed Violence

When children are exposed to violence, interventions require the assessment of parents. Whether parents can create a safe environment, are able to hear their children's story of their exposure, and then can help them move forward in healthy life patterns, must be evaluated. When safety is established, treatment of parents must be focused on how the parent can enhance the child's sense of security and empathic connection. Assessment must identify the red flags that suggest a need for more intensive work with the parent to address these issues, before specific work with the child begins. Treatment can utilize the parent's best wishes for their child to help motivate parents do the work needed for their own and their children's recovery.     

Social Support Choices for Help with Abusive Relationships: Perceptions of African American Women

A recent national telephone study of the African American community found that over 90% of respondents would feel comfortable talking to a family member or friend who was being abused about the abuse, with the majority advising she get help from a domestic violence program. The purpose of this study was to understand how comfortable abused women would feel talking to members of her support system about the abuse and how comfortable women who have not experienced partner abuse would feel if they were abused. Over 70% of women who have experienced abuse reported at least some comfort getting assistance for abuse from a friend, clergy/spiritual leader, Black community member, family member their age, or physician. Women who reported never experiencing physical or sexual partner violence were less likely to perceive feeling comfortable getting assistance from their social support systems (both formal and informal) if they were abused. Implications of these findings are discussed.