Short Synopsis
Over twenty-five years and through five editions, Walter I. Trattner's From Poor Law to Welfare State has served as the standard text on the history of welfare policy in the United States.

Full Synopsis
The only comprehensive account of American social welfare history from the colonial era to the present, the new sixth edition has been updated to include the latest developments in our society as well as trends in social welfare.

Trattner provides in-depth examination of developments in child welfare, public health, and the evolution of social work as a profession, showing how all these changes affected the treatment of the poor and needy in America. He explores the impact of public policies on social workers and other helping professions—all against the backdrop of social and intellectual trends in American history. From Poor Law to Welfare State directly addresses racism and sexism and pays special attention to the worsening problems of child abuse, neglect, and homelessness. Topics new to this sixth edition include:

● President Clinton's health-care reform and his efforts to "end welfare as we know it"

● Developments in child welfare including the voluntary use of children's institutions by parents, and the discrimination against black youth in the juvenile justice system

● The latest information on AIDS and the reappearance of tuberculosis—and their impact on public health policy