Fixing the Family

The ways children's rights are handled by the state remain a highly controversial and frequently criticized topic of national interest, yet little is known about the actual operations of the Child Welfare System. In Fixing Families, Jennifer Reich takes us inside Child Protective Services for an in-depth look at the entire organization. Following families from the beginning of a case to its discharge, Reich shows how parents negotiate with the state for custody of their children, and how being held accountable to the state affects a family. During her investigation Reich had access to many levels of CPS action, and within each chapter are heartbreaking stories culled from her many ride-alongs with social workers, and the numerous juvenile court cases that she was able to observe--stories that illustrate the dramatic personal effects of bureaucratic decisions.