Preface

Although adjusting to changing circumstances is a part of life that effects almost everyone, there are some situations that call for coping strategies that test resilience. As social workers, we need to become aware of those circumstances and be prepared to assist family members cope before these challenges have led to family crisis. Research studies provide us with a sharper focus that allows us to better define problem areas and offer interventions in a timely way. This issue of the JFSW examines 5 areas of concern to many Americans. The need for support in facing a transition was thoughtfully examined in “Military Spouses transition, too! A call to action to address spouses’military to civilian transition.” In this conceptual paper, authors Mary Keeling, Elisa Borah, Sara Kintzle and colleagues explored the issues that military spouses encounter as they along with their partner transition to civilian life. Although their partners are offered support through various programs in key areas such as employment, health and community integration, similar support is seldom offered to them. This paper sheds light on an important challenge and calls for research to investigate the needs of the veteran spouse. There are also unique challenges for seniors who are managing cancer treatment. This is particularly so for seniors and their caregivers who live in rural areas. In “Barriers and Facilitators to Cancer Treatment Adherence for older Rural African Americans: Understanding the experience from the view of patients and their caregivers” authors. Schwartz, and C. Jenkins present their research on the challenges faced by seniors and caretakers in a rural area of North Carolina. In this qualitative study, subjects discussed transportation and financial barriers, as well as factors that facilitated treatment adherence. Successful treatment adherence is a factor that also effects families who are coping with emotional problems. The successful engagement of youth and their caregivers in systems of care is particularly important, given the efficacy of early intervention in preventing more serious problems. The experiences of youth ages 8 to 18 with severe emotional challenges who were enrolled in a schoolbased care system were studied along with their caregivers’ perspectives. In Comparing Youth and Caregiver Experiences in a School-Based System of Care, authors