American Social Welfare Policy: A Pluralist Approach

by Howard Jacob Karger, David Stoesz

This best-selling book provides a comprehensive overview of social welfare policy in the United States while examining such cutting-edge issues as technology and social welfare policy and the relationship between tax policy and social welfare policy. The new edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect the impact of dramatic changes in social welfare policy. The book examines how the major sectors of social welfare policy - the voluntary, governmental, corporate, and private sectors - operate and co-exist (the "pluralist approach"). It also offers a clear, user-friendly framework for policy analysis. The new edition includes coverage of the impact of welfare reform legislation. For social workers, or anyone interested in social welfare policy.

Genres: Social Work, Textbooks, School, Nonfiction, Grad School

544 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1993

Reviews

[Kelly Reinhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did a good job of explaining the history of policies in the United States, including a wide variety of topics/social issues. It also did a good job of explaining how to analyse policies. Overall, decent book for understanding policy and for a course text.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly, this book is biased towards the liberal/left perspective, but it does give a great summary of Social Welfare policy in the U.S. and is one textbook that I think all U.S.-based social workers should read. I also think all social workers should be active policy advocates, and should therefore be informed about the history and current state of social welfare policies and practices. That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it.

[Hope McCormick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of tone and opinion, but still very informative.

[Zoe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Onerous presentation of fascinating material.