Current social welfare policy in the United States. Taking a policy analysis framework, American Social Welfare A Pluralist Approach , 7/e is the most comprehensive and up-to-date textbook on the American welfare policy. The text provides a critical in-depth look at the major programs that make up the U.S. welfare state, including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and TANF. Learning Goals Upon completing this book, readers will be able
This book did a good job of explaining the history of policies in the United States, including a wide variety of topics/social issues. It also did a good job of explaining how to analyse policies. Overall, decent book for understanding policy and for a course text.
Clearly, this book is biased towards the liberal/left perspective, but it does give a great summary of Social Welfare policy in the U.S. and is one textbook that I think all U.S.-based social workers should read. I also think all social workers should be active policy advocates, and should therefore be informed about the history and current state of social welfare policies and practices. That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it.