Social Welfare
Politics and Public Policy

Acknowledged as the most comprehensive, easy-to-read introduction to social welfare policy available, Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy, 8/e, emphasizes the current political aspects of policy making and major social welfare programs, including public assistance, Social Security, disability, health insurance, child welfare, and much more. Social Welfare does more than describe the major social welfare policies and programs; it also tackles the conflict and controversies involved in the processes and outcomes of policy making. It contrasts rational and political approaches to policy making, policy analysis, policy implementation, and policy evaluation. The authors present conflicting perspectives, encouraging readers to think critically, to debate, and to consider their own views on issues. KEY TOPICS: Core policy topics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, income and wealth inequality, poverty, health insurance, immigration, and disability rights are addressed. Both historical and current information is covered, including issues surrounding incidents such as the police shooting and subsequent death of an African American teen in Ferguson, MO, and Supreme Court decisions on controversial topics such as healthcare, gay rights, and immigration. Social Welfare compares the U.S. to other countries on social policy topics such as poverty, child and family policy, and healthcare. MARKET: Social Welfare has been used by tens of thousands of policy students and hundreds of professors in social work, government/political science, sociology, and public affairs departments and schools.