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A “No blame” approach to work with families of children and adolescents in residential care

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Abstract

This article describes an approach to family work developed in an innovative residentially based learning and living program for male and female acting out adolescents between the ages of 14 and 17 years. The family work is an integral part of the program which emphasizes the maintenance of links between the adolescents and their family, the improvement of family relationships, the continuation of family responsibility and the restoration of parental authority.

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The author is indebted to colleagues at St. John's Homes for Boys and Girls, Melbourne and Parkerville Children's Home, Perth, who use the “no blame” approach outlined. An even greater debt is owed to the families and adolescents who work with much courage on the issues that bring them to the programs that are described in this article.

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Ainsworth, F. A “No blame” approach to work with families of children and adolescents in residential care. Child Youth Care Forum 20, 301–311 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00757060

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