America's family support programs : perspectives and prospects /

A thorough examination of an area of concern throughout society-the family. Other publications, such as Shirley Jenkins's, The Ethnic Dilemma in Social Services (CH, Dec '81) and James Gabarino's Protecting Children from Abuse and Neglect (1980), focus on aspects pertinent to the family, but this collection addresses a much broader spectrum of issues and subjects. The contributors are recognized experts who have made creditable contributions in their areas of expertise. The collection brings together in a single source a substantial amount of information about programs, both governmental and nongovernmental, which have been designed to provide support to families. The volume is organized into six parts. Part 1 is an introduction that deals with the promise and problems of family support programs; Part 2 offers a context for family support; Part 3 addresses selected types of family support programs; Part 4 focuses on program development and implementation; Part 5 gives attention to issues germane to research and evaluation of family support programs; and Part 6 summarizes the nature of family support programs and suggests a number of thoughtful recommendations for the future. This collection goes into more specific detail in a variety of areas than Robert Maroney's The Family and the State (1976), and is a valuable, up-to-date addition to the literature. End-of-chapter references. Upper-division undergraduates and above.-R.T. Crow, University of Alabama