Lives On the Line American Families and the Struggle to Make Ends Meet

by Shirk, Martha; Bennett, Neil G.; Aber, J. Lawrence

• ISBN13: 9780813338200
• ISBN10: 0813338204
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-18
• Publisher: Basic Books

Summary

This landmark book examines the most urgent social problem facing us today: the welfare of America's children.

Author Biography

Martha Shirk of Palo Alto, California, is an award-winning journalist, formerly with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who specializes in children’s and family issues. Neil G. Bennett is director of demographic research for the National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. J. Lawrenece Aber is director of the National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. Martha Shirk of Palo Alto, California, is an award-winning journalist, formerly with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who specializes in children’s and family issues. Neil G. Bennett is director of demographic research for the National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. J. Lawrenece Aber is director of the National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. Martha Shirk of Palo Alto, California, is an award-winning journalist, formerly with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who specializes in children’s and family issues. Neil G. Bennett is director of demographic research for the National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. J. Lawrenece Aber is director of the National Center for Children in Poverty, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Illustrations	vii
Foreword	ix
Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction	1	(10)
Part 1 The Stories
Palmerton, Pennsylvania	11	(24)
Oakland, California	35	(22)
Randolph County, Illinois	57	(28)
Honolulu, Hawaii	85	(24)
Louisville, Kentucky	109	(22)
Basalt, Colorado	131	(22)
Westchester County, New York	153	(26)
Suburban St. Louis	179	(22)
Belzoni, Mississippi	201	(22)
Grand Rapids, Michigan	223	(20)
Part 2 The Stories in Context
The Demographics of Young Child Poverty in the United States: Putting the Families in Perspective	243	(14)
Conclusion: Reading Lives on the Line	257	(34)
Epilogue	273	(18)
Appendices	291	(6)
Notes	297	(2)
About the Authors	299	(2)
Index	301