This book sets the standard for preparing prospective teachers to engage parents of children 0 to 8 in the challenging occupation of educating them. Covers all aspects of the subject, including past and current research, the challenges of working with minority and culturally-diverse families and families of children with disabilities, in-school and home-based programs, parent conferences, child abuse, advocacy, and the rights-and-responsibilities balance. Up-to-date coverage includes the most recent Census data (2000)>197>adressing changing demographics across the United States and their implications for all aspects of education; as well as recent changes in special education law. For educators and those studying to be educators. - from Amzon