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Focus on Prevention*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2024

P. Boss*
Affiliation:
Monash University Director, The Children's Bureau of Australia

Extract

What we are discussing is the notion of prevention as directed toward families. The idea is to prevent the break-up of families in our community which is costly both in economic and social terms … but, as I hope to demonstrate, there is more to it than that.

Let me also say that the notion of prevention, both in theoretical and conceptual terms as well as in applied, practical terms is nothing new, it has been around for a long time. At the turn of the last century it became a popular theme with the advocates for an expanded role for local government in the U.K.; the work of Sydney and Beatrice Webb, in particular, made a substantial and important contribution there.

Type
Focus on Prevention
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

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Footnotes

*

This is an edited version of a paper presented at the Children's Bureau seminar - ‘Prevention - Focus on Family Support’, held on 12 March 1988, Melbourne. The seminar was jointly auspiced by the Children's Bureau and St. Anthony's Family Service (Melbourne)

References

FOOTNOTE

1. The progression toward rational and vigorous local government with its theme of social capital building was amply demonstrated in the Webbs' monumental works.

see Webb, S. and B. English Local Government published between 1906 and 1927Google Scholar

see also

Laski, H.J., Jennings, W.I., Robson, W.A. (eds.) A Century of Municipal Progress 1835- 1935 Geo. Allen and Unwin, 1935 Google Scholar

In the introduction it quotes Graham Wallas: “for the average English citizen, the possibility of health, of happiness, of progress towards the old Greek ideal of ‘beautiful goodness, depends on his local government more than on any other factor in his environment.”

2. Kahn, A.J., Planning Community Services for Children in Trouble Columbia University Press, N.Y., 1963 pp. 6063 Google Scholar

3. Mitchell, B. Helping Families in Great Need An American Perspective St. Anthony's Family Service, 1987 Google Scholar