Fragile Families, Fragile Solutions

by Robert Halpern

How has America's social welfare network benefited families living in poverty? In what ways has it failed to provide for their needs? The system of social welfare in the United States has been in place for most of this century-and although it has had lasting impact on the lives of many people in need, it is far from perfect in its handling of the nation's poor. Fragile Families, Fragile Solutions presents a historical perspective on one of the central components of the U.S. social welfare network-family services-and provides a unique look at the advances this service network has achieved, problems it has confronted, and where it is likely to go in the future.

Beginning with an exploration of the nineteenth-century roots of family services and the emergence of family casework at the beginning of this century, Halpern ranges through the 1920s and 1930• charting the influence of psychoanalytic theory in social service work and government responses to the Depression. He surveys the following two decades, when policymakers attempted to respond to changing inner-city populations. An extended section focuses on the 1960• a critical reform period. Covering a wide spectrum of contemporary issues in policy and organization, as well as escalating crises in such areas as child welfare, Halpern brings readers up to date on this complex subject.

Offering policy recommendations for the future, Halpern inspires social workers and policymakers alike with a symbolic goal of constructing a more positive vision of the potential of social services, and a pragmatic objective of designing an efficient, effective family services network to care for Americans in greatest need of support.

312 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 1998

Reviews

[Kandace]

I really enjoyed this book! If you would like to understand the social, political and economic history of the United States' social policies that impact children and families this is a must read. The book offers a solid overview of the different ideological, social and cultural forces that have shaped they way we provide services to families. If you work in social work, policy, government, or if you are generally interested in historical foundations this would be a good book for you.

The book is dense! Reading one page feels like you are reading five. The author piles much into his chapters, so the book may take a little longer to read than anticipated.

[Jamie]

I can't believe I'm adding more books to the "currently reading" tab...although this book is very worth it.