Child Welfare Research: Advances For Practice And Policy

Child Welfare Research: Advances For Practice And Policy

Product DescriptionResearch has already been a significant factor in child welfare policy in recent years, but this essential new volume demonstrates that it has taken a leading role in the field to spur and guide change. In the incisive chapters gathered here, some of the field's top investigators present their work and assess its effect on the full spectrum of child welfare services. Future generations of researchers, as well as students, practitioners, and service providers, will find the resulting text indispensable. Edited by Duncan Lindsey and Aron Shlonsky, two of the discipline's most articulate voices, the book covers every base. The opening chapters situate child welfare research in the modern context; they are followed by discussions of evidence-based practice in the field, arguably its most pressing concern now. Recent years have seen historic rises in the number of children adopted through public agencies and, accordingly, permanent placement and family ties are critical topics that occupy the book's core, along with chapters broaching the thorny questions that surround decision-making and risk assessment. The urgent need for a more effective use of research and evidence is highlighted again with looks at the future of child protection and how concrete data can influence policy and help children. Finally, in recognition of the growing importance of a global view, closing chapters address international issues in child welfare research, including an examination of policies from abroad and a multinational comparison of the economic challenges facing single mothers and their children. With its insightful treatment of child welfare services in terms of the broader welfare system and acknowledgment of the myriad problems child welfare agencies face, this exceptional compendium offers a rich understanding of the social conditions that influence contemporary child welfare and enables the field to move ahead without losing sight of valuable lessons that have been learned.Review"This is a welcome resource, providing evidence to inform a wide range of child welfare issues. The editors and authors are wise in defining child welfare as more than foster care and protective services, and in placing children in the context of family. The chapters focus not simply on problems, but also on healthy child development. Overall, this book can inform a more comprehensive vision of child welfare practice and policy, which is long overdue."--Michael Sherraden, Youngdahl Professor of Social Development and Director, Center for Social Developmetn, Washington University in St.Louis"Combining the latest knowledge in child welfare research with illustrations of its applicability in practice and policy, Lindsey and Shlonsky provide critical evaluations and reviews of evidence-based literature to guide the reader in exploring issues in child welfare service provision. The text captures the complexity of the field and of current practice illustrating the many ways in which research and critical research reviews can aid policy and practice. The authors present an array of substantive material to prompt thoughtful and serious problem-solving discussions."--Susan J. Wells,Gamble-Skogmo Professor in Child Welfare and Youth Policy, University of Minnesota School of Social Work"Lindsey and Shlonsky have put together a survey of the field of child welfare-essays that promise to lead policymakers and practitioners toward reliable and innovative responses to challenging problems. An incredible collection."--Linda G. Mills, Professor of Social Work, Public Policy and Law,New York University"A treasure trove for serious scholars of child welfare. Lindsey and Shlonsky and their distinguished contributors highlight in exquisite detail the multi-faceted nature of child welfare research and its enormous potential to alter the face of existing policy and practices. A must read for those who seek an evidence-informed and more humane child