The Haworth Press, Inc.
10 Alice Street
Binghampton, NY 13904
(607) 722-2493
$34.95 (c); $19.95 (p)
  

Description:

This 269-page edited book consists of 15 chapters on various aspects of false allegations.  The collection of articles first appeared in Child and Youth Services, 15(2) and is now available in book form.  Many of the authors are well known in the field, for example, Robert ten Bensel, Kevin McGovern, Douglas Besharov, Jeanne Giovannoni, Peter Pecora, Kathleen Quinn, and Arthur Green.  Each chapter contains useful references.
  

Discussion:

This may be the most significant book of readings yet published for the front line worker.  Gathered together are 15 very disturbing chapters that indicate the wide parameters of the problem of false allegations.  In an effort to help families, we have invaded their privacy with inadequate tools and at the same time have overloaded child protection workers so that they can not appropriately provide services.  At a time when state budgets are collapsing, family program spending is declining, and unemployment is high, the family is threatened by the system which was created to help it.  This book, while humbling, is required reading for professionals in the child protection field.

Reviewed by LeRoy G. Schultz, Professor of Social Work, West Virginia University.