Families in Distress

Families in Distress: Public, Private, and Civic Responses explores the complex and often contentious interplay between public and private sectors in addressing the needs of children from troubled families. The book critiques the conventional debate over the roles of governmental versus private welfare services, arguing that this dialogue is too simplistic. The author emphasizes the importance of considering individuals as citizens who have rights and responsibilities, rather than just as clients in need of help. By introducing the concept of civic responsibility, the book suggests that helping troubled families should not only be a matter of matching needs to services but also about engaging citizens in a democratic process of addressing social issues. This broadens the debate by proposing that civic participation, in the form of community involvement and oversight, is essential to improving the outcomes of welfare services and ensuring that citizens play a meaningful role in the welfare system.

The author further examines how various organizations, both public and private, have responded to the challenges faced by families, particularly those suffering from poverty, neglect, and abuse. While the expansion of welfare systems and professional services has provided more formalized help, the book argues that these organizations often fail to address the deeper issues of family distress and may even inadvertently reinforce dependency. The analysis includes a critical review of the impact of professional social work, welfare policies, and public services on families, urging a shift towards a more citizen-driven approach. The book calls for a rethinking of how social welfare should operate, advocating for policies that not only address immediate needs but also encourage independence and long-term stability for families in distress. Through this approach, the book provides a thought-provoking examination of the ways in which society can better balance the roles of public institutions, private organizations, and civic participation in responding to family crises.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1988.