Caseworkers of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program work with extremely deprived families. Despite their hardships, many of these families manage their tasks of child rearing with exceptional courage and ingenuity. For some, the burdens become too heavy, and the children do not receive the care and training they need for sound growth and development. The wonder is not that some families fail, but that so many succeed under such adverse circumstances. Under the 1962 Social Service Amendments to the Social Security Act, State public welfare agencies must give special attention to the needs of each child in families that receive AFDC payments, and particularly to those living under hazardous conditions. All the resources of the agency should be made available to meet the special needs of each child so that he will have the best possible opportunity for normal development.

This comprehensive handbook is a useful tool for practitioners in understanding the casework process. Chapters cover child development, intervention with families and medical evaluation of child abuse and neglect and how to interview in child protective services.