ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes the portrayal of child welfare conditions in novels and stories of nineteenth century English and American literature, and points out that these stories reflect then-prevailing views regarding the child welfare system. It is concerned with the actions of children, and social workers who were caught up in the conflict between the economic pressures of families who needed children’s incomes and the implementation of new child labor policies. The book analyzes the economic conditions and social crises of the growing number of homeless children and the rates of violence of the 1850s to those of the 1980s. It provides an overview of the history of out-of-home care, stressing major societal changes that led to program changes. The book also describes the program of the children’s aid society, which sent approximately 150,000 children to homes in western states between 1853 and 1929.
