For most young people, crossing the threshold from adolescence into adulthood is an angst-filled journey that can take years to complete, and requires the guidance and support of caring adults. But for some children, there is a deadline past which no guidance, support or supervision is...  more

For most young people, crossing the threshold from adolescence into adulthood is an angst-filled journey that can take years to complete, and requires the guidance and support of caring adults. But for some children, there is a deadline past which no guidance, support or supervision is available. Each year, as many as 25,000 teenagers "age out" of foster care, usually when they turn eighteen. For most of their lives, a government agency had made every important decision for them. Suddenly, they are entirely alone, with no one to count on. What does it mean to be eighteen and on your own, without the family support and personal connections that most young people rely on? For many youth raised in foster care, it means largely unhappy endings, including sudden homelessness, unemployment, dead-end jobs, loneliness and despair. 'On Their Own' tells the compelling stories of ten young people whose lives are full of promise, but who face economic and social barriers stemming from the disruptions of foster care. For other youth, proper preparation for adulthood and support from caring adults helps them develop the resiliency and skills needed for success. As President Jimmy Carter writes in his Foreword: "The question we should ask ourselves is this: if we willingly give our own children the benefit of our support as they struggle to become independent, productive adults, why do we tolerate the abrupt withdrawal of support for youth who are aging out of care?"

Bruce Jansson's text takes the social welfare policy course beyond just presenting welfare policy descriptions by teaching students what to do with policy and by giving them a toolbox of strategies for conducting policy-practice. This hands-on policy-practice framework helps social work students...  more

Bruce Jansson's text takes the social welfare policy course beyond just presenting welfare policy descriptions by teaching students what to do with policy and by giving them a toolbox of strategies for conducting policy-practice. This hands-on policy-practice framework helps social work students to develop specific skills they can use to actually change policy--this groundbreaking text prepares students to become effective policy practitioners.

Max Sumner and the Grey Griffins must stand together with the Knights of Templar against a deadly evil... Now, Max, Harley, and Natalia face the greatest challenge of their lives, as Max must come to terms with his father's most wicked betrayal, and fellow Griffin, Ernie, still lies...  more

Max Sumner and the Grey Griffins must stand together with the Knights of Templar against a deadly evil... Now, Max, Harley, and Natalia face the greatest challenge of their lives, as Max must come to terms with his father's most wicked betrayal, and fellow Griffin, Ernie, still lies trapped in an enchanted coma. But there is more at stake than Max's family and Ernies's life--while Lord Sumner commands the Black Wolf army and has control of the powerful Spear of Tagnarok, the fate of the entire world hangs in the balance. Can the Grey Griffins break the spell on Ernie and stop Lord Sumner and Morgan La Fey from using the Spear of Ragnarok before it's too late?

This book should be of interest to students of social work.