The Impossible Imperative

Jill Duerr Berrick, PhD, MSW, is Zellerbach Family Foundation Professor in the School of Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Berrick's research focuses on the relationship of the state to vulnerable families. She has written or co-written ten books on topics relating to family poverty, child maltreatment, and child welfare. Her interests target the intersect between poverty, early childhood development, parenting, and the service systems designed to address these issues. Berrick's research approach typically relies upon the voices of service system consumers and providers to identify the impacts of social problems and social service solutions on family life.

About the Book

1. Child Welfare: Perilous Territory for Those Who Care
Xander, by Freny Dessai
Parker & Winona, by Trudi Frazel

2. Screening and Assessment: Who Do We Serve?
Children in Need, by Maria Burch

3. Are They Safe (Enough)?
Josiah & Jaden, by Leslie Laughlin
Bill & Jane's family, by Erika Altobelli

4. The Oldest Debate in Child Welfare
Tonya, by Socorro Reynoso
Terry, by Viviana Colosimo-Blair

5. When We Say 'No' to Family
Shannon, by Alyssa Barkley

6. Fighting for "Hard-to-Place" Kids
Danny, by Monica Montury
Luke, by Wendy Wiegmann

7. The Quest for a Forever Family
Ethan, by Hanna Rashkovsky
Olivia, Ronald, Vanessa, Chloe, and Nathaniel, by Traci Bernal

8. Culture Clash and the Power of the State
Mario, by Angelica Rodriguez
Pablo and Yessi, by Sasha McGowan

9. Whose Voice Counts?
Alison, by Freny Dessai

10. Contested Principles on the Front Lines
Joaquin, by Veronica Perez

Glossary
About the Authors
Notes
Index