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Mailman School
of Public Health
Columbia University
722 West 168th Street,
8th Floor
New York, NY 10032
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Raising children in a socially toxic environment James Garbarino Living in today's society is dangerous to children's health and well-being. The author traces this situation to the deterioration of the social environment, to a changing economy, the increasing dependence of families on government and the community for support, and the violent, empty nature of contemporary culture. In this "socially toxic" environment, young children are especially vulnerable to emotional and behavioral problems, to being the victims and instigators of abuse and violent behavior, to becoming teenage parents, and to dropping out of or failing in school. The book paints a picture of how childhood should be, and shows how individual adults and communities can provide the ingredients children need to grow up healthy: a stable, strong family and child care situation; a safe, secure home and community; positive self identity; time spent with family and other caring adults; a positive connection to and a valuing of the community; and access to basic elements of living (food, clothing, shelter, education). Children living in poor families, with their greater accumulation of risk factors for unhealthy outcomes (such as poverty; absent father; low parental education; inflexible, punitive parenting; minority group status; parental substance abuse or mental illness; or large family size) are most affected by the present society. He suggests children can be resilient with up to two or three risk factors, but as risk factors mount their self image and achievement potential are seriously affected. Individuals, parents, and communities can foster positive child development through more interpersonal contact (reading, music, game-playing), less television, modeling empathizing and less dehumanizing behavior, and establishing home-visiting programs and positive standards of behavior.
Jossey-Bass Publishers
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Disclaimer Free To Grow is a national program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with direction and technical assistance provided by the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University. |