Understanding Child Welfare was published in January 2026 through Edward Elgar Publishing. Co-authored by Distinguished Professor and the Zellerbach Family Foundation Professor of Social Welfare Jill Duerr Berrick, former UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare faculty (1992–1998) and current Distinguished Professor at the University of Maryland School of Social Work Richard P. Barth, along with other eminent scholars in the field, Understanding Child Welfare presents a comprehensive survey of child welfare services in the United States, drawing global parallels to examine the challenges, tensions, and opportunities within the field. It addresses the purposes of child welfare, patterns of service delivery, outcomes for children and families, workforce considerations, and contemporary policy debates.
Integrating quantitative research, qualitative studies, and the lived experiences of children, families, and social workers, Understanding Child Welfare offers a rigorous and nuanced account of how child welfare systems operate and identifies directions for future research and practice.
The book is an open access title and is free to read, download and share on Elgaronline.com.