Reviewed by Ted Steege

If you ever thought about becoming a social worker—or avoided social work because of its reputation as a high-stress, high-turnover occupation—this book has something in it for you. But no matter what your profession, this powerful glimpse into the work lives of four child welfare workers will open your eyes to what it takes day by day to stand up for the rights and wellbeing of children.

Marjorie Beggs' engaging write-up of a study by Wilbur Finch more than fulfills the purpose of the National Association of Social Workers in funding it: "to recognize child welfare workers' accomplishments and portray their work realistically for people who might be considering a career in the field." Yet it does much more.

In a vivid, honest, and engaging way, the book presents the stories of four workers who have not only survived but excelled in their jobs, and it does so without hiding the frustrating challenges of the work. They serve in very different environments but face similar challenges, and they all have a special edge. Asked if she was surprised to be nominated for the study, Susan Sontag-Crisanto of rural Riverside County said "Well, yes and no. I work very hard, but I'm kind of rebellious and tend to get in trouble."

Follow Sontag-Crisanto, of the court dependency unit of rural Riverside County, as she confronts the irate father of a man accused of molesting his grandson. Go with Clara Zamora, an emergency response worker for San Francisco's sexual abuse unit, to help figure out how to stop a pregnant Latina schoolgirl's uncle from abusing her. Struggle with David Weinreich of sprawling Los Angeles County to figure out the safest environment for a child torn between one difficult foster placement and another ("I try to err on the side of the child," says Weinreich). Watch court officer Barbara Williams of suburban Contra Costa County help social workers do their best for children in a court system that can be confusing and frustrating to the best. You'll emerge with a new understanding of just how tough this work is, and how rewarding to those who don't allow the system to chew them up and spit them out.

You don't have to be interested in social work as a career to appreciate this book. Just care about kids and refuse to settle for easy answers about how to provide for their welfare. Whether you approach it as a professional looking for understanding, as a policymaker seeking a view of how policy works out in practice, or as a voter hoping for better ways of meeting the needs of vulnerable children, you'll find the trip worthwhile.

Ted Steege, a Washington-based advocate for children's hunger and poverty issues for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, is President of the National Committee for the Rights of the Child. Before arriving in Washington in 1994, he served for a decade as Director of the Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin.