The Book Of David: How Preserving Families Can Cost Children's Lives [Paperback]

Richard J. Gelles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0465053963 | ISBN-13: 978-0465053964

Using the true story of a murdered child as a point of departure, a leading expert on family violence argues that society’s first priority must be protecting children rather than preserving families.Richard Gelles was once one of the most widely published and vocal defenders of family preservation: the social policy of keeping troubles families together as a primary goal. He then ran into the true and tragic case of David Edwards, an infant who was murdered by his mother after falling through the chasms in the child welfare system.David’s story convinced Gelles that the system must change. Nearly half the children who are killed by their parents each year are killed after they have come to the attention of child welfare agencies. These children must be protected by getting them out of harm’s way. That means a radically new child welfare system must be developed. The first priority must be to protect children rather than preserve families. This hard-hitting book critically examines family preservation programs and argues that they do not work. Gelles goes beyond mere criticism of the child welfare system to suggest specific ways the system should be changed, such as eliminating mandatory reporting of abuse, giving better training to caseworkers, and separating the investigation of abuse from case management.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The tragedy of abused children who have been failed by child welfare agencies is made palpable in the case presented here, followed by a specialist in family violence. Gelles, director of the Family Violence Research Program at the University of Rhode Island, examines the brief life of David, who died of suffocation at 15 months-one of the many children killed by their parents in the U.S. each year. Though previously reported as an abused child whose older sibling had earlier been removed from the family, David was nonetheless allowed to remain with his biological parents. The author attacks this operating principle of social service agencies that claims children are better off with their own families than with other caregivers. It is his documented observation that the central mission of child welfare agencies-preserving families-does not work. In tracing the system's tragic failure to save a child, Gelles sounds a wake-up call to agencies to put children first and reassess the efficacy of family preservation programs.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Few crimes are more appalling than the murder of a child by its mother or father. Such crimes occur several times yearly in most states, bringing shame and obloquy upon the public agencies charged with preventing them. Gelles examines the case of a little boy suffocated by his mother to show how opportunities to save the child were missed and why. Besides individual misjudgments and bureaucratic folderol, there was, Gelles argues, a larger culprit: the reigning presumption that keeping a family together is more important than ensuring a child's safety. Once an advocate of family preservation, Gelles now calls for a child-centered policy that first puts children out of harm's way. Specific reforms he recommends include sharpening vague verbiage in child welfare laws and regulations, separating child welfare investigation from the case management and service responsibilities of social workers, and giving much better training to child welfare workers. An exceedingly balanced, considerate, and authoritative brief on a topic of the utmost importance. Ray Olson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 218 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (April 18, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465053963
• ISBN-13: 978-0465053964
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #377,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "must read" for citizen Foster Care Review Panel members, July 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book Of David: How Preserving Families Can Cost Children's Lives (Paperback)

Foster Care Review Panel members are frequently selected to represent the community at-large who bring varied experiences and backgrounds to the sessions. "The Book of David" will raise the awareness of readers on the issues of Reunification and Termination of Parental Rights. Gelles has provided decision tables and other statistical information, providing additional food-for-thought which enhances the credibility of this book that can be read by a broad audience.Yes, there is much work to be done to improve our ability to make sound decisions on behalf of these children.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Price of Family Preservation & Reunification, June 9, 2008

By 

Dawn De Lorenzo "Author of Peanut Butter and ... (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Book Of David: How Preserving Families Can Cost Children's Lives (Paperback)

While this book does an excellent job of presenting the cost effectiveness (and therefore political support) of family preservation and reunification it also spotlights the greatest cost of all - our children. As Gelles points out, "...30 to 50 percent of the children killed by parents or caretakers are killed after they were identified by child welfare agencies, were involved in interventions, and were either left in their homes or returned home after a short-term placement" (p.149). Gelles narrates the true story of "David Edwards" who was killed by his mother AFTER CPS removed his older sister and the parents voluntarily gave up their rights to the now permanently brain damaged girl. Gelles exposes "...the sacrosanct belief that children always (or nearly always) are better off with their biological parents" for the myth that it is; a creation based on the "...zeal with which family preservation was sold convinc[ing] many policymakers and service providers that it is the best way to resolve the problems plaguing the child welfare system" (p.141).

Gelles also underscores the fact that many excellent potential foster families are lost due to their fear of child welfare placing the child they have bonded with back in the arms of their abusers despite the foster parents' objections and, worst, despite the danger to the child's life. Parents who have no interest in parenting their child are often pursued relentlessly by case workers metaphorically shoving the child in their face and screaming affirmations "You will love this child and be a family even though you cracked her ribs and she has permanent brain damage at your hands!" as the foster parents who long to love and care for the child stand on the sidelines wearing their heart on their sleeve watching helplessly to see how it all plays out.

Gelles does not call for an end to family preservation programs or reunification. He simply asks that it not be THE only option and that we base decisions on research and empirical data rather than our blind faith and worship of "the family" even if the price is the child's life.