Parents bear primary responsibility for meeting their children's physical, emotional and intellectual needs and for providing moral guidance and direction. It is in society's best interests to support parents in their childbearing roles, to enable them to fulfill their obligations, and to hold them responsible for the care and support of their children.

Recognizing that there are no quick and easy answers to questions about how best to raise children and no single correct way of dealing with the challenges families encounter, Celebrating Families introduces viewers to families from across the United States, from Hawai`i to Georgia. The six-part series provides a brief look into their lives and serves as a stimulus for discussing issues facing families today. Presented in a TV-magazine format with narration by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, renowned pediatrician, author, and educator, each of the six shows contains five segments featuring families of varying ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, resulting in a diverse and culturally sensitive series. A summary of these shows is presented below.

Video 1: Responsibility
In all families, regardless of structure or socio-economic or cultural background, certain responsibilities are essential to healthy family functioning. This show provides insight into how members of five families view their responsibilities and strive to fulfill them. The families share their thoughts on being custodial and non-custodial parents, grandparents, children, and community members.

Segment 1: "Kids." The Wilhoite family teaches their children the meaning of responsibility.

Segment 2: "Parents." The Browns, a two-parent, two-child, two- career family, discuss how they share responsibilities in their busy lives.

Segment 3: "Single Parents." Marc Schechter, a non-custodial parent, shares how he remains an integral part of his children's lives.

Segment 4: "Grandparents." Raquel and Gustavo Gutierrez explain why they are integrally involved in their grandchildren's daily lives.

Segment 5: "Community." The Yukimuras volunteer to work with children other than their own through a sense of responsibility to the community of families.

Segment 1. "Strategies." The Chaffins show how a busy family of 10, with children ranging in age from 8 months to 19 years, keep in touch with one another.

Segment 2. "Body Language." The Mostellers show how body language communicates important messages.

Segment 3. "Counseling." Jana Jones explains how seeing a different point of view, with the help of an impartial third party, can make a world of difference.

Segment 4. "Problem Solving." The Ka‘ai‘ai family shares a problem-solving strategy they have found to be effective.

Segment 5. "Traditions." The Watanabe-Gongob and Ebisu families discuss the importance of communicating values and traditions to their children.

Segment 1. "Stress." The Cobb family discusses the negative effects of stress build-up in their family and how they found more effective ways to deal with it.

Segment 2. "Being Active." The Antley family runs together to keep in shape and to keep the family close. Explore with them why exercise is important to good health.

Segment 3. "Eating Well." The Kaszycki family shares how they deal with conflicting dietary information, high food prices, and confusing advertising to provide their family with good nutrition.

Segment 4. "Challenges." The Nishimoto family shares their determination to raise their child, who has special needs, as they would any other child, and the challenges they face as they strive to do this.

Segment 5. "Family Care." The Gomez family demonstrates the benefits of family-centered medical care in which treatment is focused on the family rather than the individual.

Segment 1. "Role Models." The Ollison family shares why they decided to move to and help revitalize an inner-city neighborhood.

Segment 2. "Counting on Kids." The Denis family discusses how their children have developed a sense of giving back to the community and helping others.

Segment 3. "Religion." The Hu and Abe families explain the importance of religion as a foundation of guiding principles and a source of support in their lives.

Segment 4. "Discipline." The Aquino family shares their philosophy about why they discipline their children as they do.

Segment 5. "Generations." The Maa clan members show how they maintain a sense of who they are and where they came from through their family newsletters and reunions.

Segment 1. "Education." Roberta Davis demonstrates how an individual can actively participate in and strengthen the education of young children.

Segment 2. "Television." The Hadar family shows how they control TV viewing by using it as an educational tool rather than having it control them.

Segment 3. "Economic Pressures." The Suzuki family is struggling to make ends meet. Explore how their inner strength and love for one another help them to keep going.

Segment 4. "Changing Cultures." The Wong family shares their experience of starting over in a new country: their hopes for their children, the challenges they have faced, and how they have managed thus far.

Segment 5. "Homeless." Where do you go? What do you do when you've lost everything? Dolores Rathfon shares her story of rebuilding her life for herself and for her children.

Segment 1. "Government." The Healthy Start Program is an example of a successful partnership between government and private agencies to reduce child abuse and neglect.

Segment 2. "Business." Nations Bank provides family-friendly policies that support their employees and their families, including the provision of elder-care services and in-house child care.

Segment 3. "Community." The Angel Charity Network exemplifies how a group of concerned people can come together to provide support to families in need.

Segment 4. "Neighborhoods." The Family Focus Centers, originated by Bernice Weissbord, provide not only a place where families can find the services they need under one roof but also a common meeting ground that provides a sense of community.

Segment 5. "Valuing Families." Dr. T. Berry Brazelton discusses the importance of valuing and supporting families and some ways we can do so.

• Celebrating Families - for orders made in the State of Hawai‘i
• Celebrating Families - for orders made from Mainland

The Center on the Family
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
2515 Campus Road, Miller Hall 103
Honolulu, HI 96822
 

For more information,
email: cof@ctahr.hawaii.edu; call: (808) 956-4132; or fax (808) 956-4147

Celebrating Family (copyright 1996) was developed and produced by the Center on the Family, in cooperation with Hawai‘i Public Television, Honolulu, Hawai‘i.

Dr. Sylvia Yuen, Principal Investigator
Dr. Grace F. Fong, Co-Principal Investigator
Ms. Shair Nielsen, Project Coordinator
Mr. Ed McNaulty, Producer
Mr. Les Matsuura, Producer

Partial funding for the video series Celebrating Family was provided by the Administration for Children and Families within the Department of Health and Human Services. The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor can endorsement by the Federal Government be assumed. Additional funding was provided by the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, administered by the Office of Youth Services, State of Hawai‘i; the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; and Hawai‘i Public Television.