Keepin' On
The Everyday Struggles of Young Families in Poverty
By Jean Ispa, Ph.D., Kathy Thornburg, Ph.D., & Mark Fine, Ph.D., with invited contributors



The result of a 5-year research project conducted in one major American city, this fascinating book is a vivid journey into the lives of nine young African-American mothers facing issues related to single parenthood and poverty. What are their strengths and challenges as parents? How are their families affected by frequent transitions between homes, jobs, and significant others? What is their experience with Early Head Start? What can other programs learn from their stories? The authors answer these and other questions, taking early childhood professionals on an evolving tour through these women’s lives and giving readers in-depth, qualitative portraits they can use to inform their own work. Readers will

• examine the influences of factors within the family, such as the childrearing beliefs and practices, the mothers’ relationships with their parents, and the involvement of fathers
  
  
• explore the impact of interactions outside the family, including relationships with friends, neighbors, and home visitors
  
  
• learn about cultural and societal forces that support or hinder each family’s well-being
  
  
• get to know one mother, Andreya, through an extensive case study that examines her relationships, social influences, triumphs, and challenges

Readers will also reflect on implications and lessons learned from the study, with the aid of expert commentary on research, practice, and policy. An essential resource for any early childhood professional, this compelling book gives readers critical insight into the many complex factors that affect any intervention with families in poverty.

About the Authors
About the Contributors
Foreword
By Edward Zigler, Ph.D.

Preface
Acknowledgments

I:  The Context: Early Head Start and Our Research

1. The Background
   Jean M. Ispa and Kathy R. Thornburg
   
   
2. Introducing the Mothers
   Jean M. Ispa, Sheila J. Brookes, Kathy R. Thornburg, and Mark A. Fine
   
   
3. Theoretical Perspectives and Research Methods
   Jean M. Ispa, Mark A. Fine, and Elizabeth A. Sharp
   
   

II: Andreya: An In-Depth Case Study

4. From Birth to Age 16
   Jean M. Ispa and Elizabeth A. Sharp
   
   
5. Becoming a Mother
   Jean M. Ispa and Elizabeth A. Sharp
   
   
6. Mother of Two
   Jean M. Ispa and Elizabeth A. Sharp
   
   
7. After Moving Out
   Jean M. Ispa and Elizabeth A. Sharp
   
   

III:  Family and Romantic Relationships

8. Mothers' Relationships with Their Parents and Parent-Figures
   Mark A. Fine, Linda C. Halgunseth, and Jean M. Ispa
   
   
9. Matters of the Heart: Romantic Relationships
   Elizabeth A. Sharp and Jean M. Ispa
   
   
10. Raising Children
    Jean M. Ispa and Linda C. Halgunseth
    
    
11. The Children's Fathers
    Elizabeth A. Sharp and Jean M. Ispa
    
    

IV: Beyond the Family

12. Neighbors and Friends
    Jean M. Ispa and Linda C. Halgunseth
    
    
13. Home Visitor Roles and Dilemmas
    Sheila J. Brookes, Kathy R. Thornburg, and Jean M. Ispa
    
    
14. Child Care Arrangements
    Sheila J. Brookes and Kathy R. Thornburg
    
    
15. Violence
    Kathy R. Thornburg and Sheila J. Brookes
    
    

Part V: Implications for Researchers, Practitioners, and Policy Makers

16. Improving the Lives of Children and Families Living in Poverty
    Kathy R. Thornburg, Linda C. Halgunseth, Sheila J. Brookes, Jean M. Ispa, Mark A. Fine, and Elizabeth A. Sharp
    
    
17. Commentaries
    A Research Perspective
    Gina Barclay-McLaughlin
    
    A Practice Perspective
    Gayle Cunningham
    
    A Policy Perspective
    Deborah A. Phillips
    
    

Index