Supporting Parents brings together authoritative research on supporting parents and carers. Underpinning the government's developing policy for children's services, it is essential reading for practitioners, policy makers and academics working in child care. Professor David Quinton, a nationally recognized authority in the field of parenting and child development, summarizes the key findings of an innovative government-funded series of research studies. The studies explored subjects as diverse as parenting in poverty, disabled parents and children, step-parenting, teenage parents, imprisoned fathers, and parents who reject their children. Drawing out the key messages for practice and policy, this accessible overview shows how 'informal' support can be complemented by the provision of a fully integrated multi-agency response from health care, education and social services. This important book should be read by all those professionals working with children and their families, including social workers, teachers, GPs and health visitors.