In this insightful volume, Laurie MacKinnon presents a clear picture of the paradoxical nature of child-at-risk work, and the social context in which it is set.

Challenging traditional views, MacKinnon shows how assumptions about gender, class, and the meaning of pathology can hinder positive intervention, alienating the families the system is supposed to help. The dynamics of power and powerlessness provide a lens through which MacKinnon reveals the ways that families perceive therapists and the reasons behind these families' "resistance" to intervention.

Amply illustrated with case examples and interviews with parents, this book offers a fresh perspective on problems of the referral process and what are typically seen as barriers to cooperation in treatment.

Firmly grounded and qualitative research and clinical practice, the volume offers vital concepts and tools for respectful, effective family intervention. It is ideal for professionals working with families, including practitioners and students of social work, family therapy, psychology, and counseling, as well as child protection workers and supervisors. In addition, sociologists and family researchers will appreciate MacKinnon's powerful insights into working-class family life.