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Insane takes journalist Alisa Roth deep inside our prisons and jails to show how and why they have become warehouses for people with mental illness, institutions rife with improper treatment and outright abuse. She brings readers from the overwhelmed mental health units of the Los Angeles County Jail to a women's prison in Oklahoma with one of the fastest-growing populations of people with mental illness in the country. Roth provides the first comprehensive account of America's mental health crisis - and uncovers the hidden forces behind it. She also explores some of the most innovative solutions to the problem, showing that large-scale fixed at many levels of the mental health and criminal justice system are within reach. Now updated to cover the latest developments in criminal justice reform, Insane is a stirring call to action for anyone concerned about the plight of our most vulnerable.

"Liz Hauck and her dad had a plan to start a weekly cooking program in a residential home for teen-aged boys in state care, which was run by the human services agency he co-directed. When her father died unexpectedly after a brief illness, Liz decided to attempt the cooking project without him. She didn't know what to expect volunteering with court-involved youth, but as a high school teacher she knew that teenagers are drawn to food-related activities, and as a daughter, she believed that if she and the kids made even a single dinner together she could check one box off of her father's long, unfinished to-do list. This is the story of what happened around the table, and how one dinner became one hundred dinners"--Provided by publisher.

"Homelessness is an issue that affects people all around the world, including many children. But how can we help people experiencing homelessness? This book introduces arguments for different approaches to dealing with the issue of homelessness"--Provided by publisher.

"When the Avengers are assembled to contain a super threat in New York City, Spider-Man is given the most important job of all: to make sure all the Avengers' super pets are safe! Spider-Man wants in on the bad guy fighting action, but with great power comes great pet sitting"--Provided by publisher.

"Traces the lives of a trio of girls who met in the 'troubled teen industry' and went on to share the same tragic fate. Samantha and her best friend Elissa were typical privileged, rebellious, suburban girls. But after Elissa was kicked out of their private school . . . her parents quietly flew her from Providence, Rhode Island to a $10,000/month therapeutic boarding school in Nebraska. Ponca Pines Academy was part of the 'troubled teen industry', a network of programs meant to reform wealthy, wayward teens. There she met two girls uncannily named Alissa and Alyssa, who had similar backgrounds and similar vices. In 'The Elissas', Samantha Leach channels her personal grief and utilizes years of immersive research combined with her biting prose to reveal the cultural forces and systemic failings that contributed to the deaths of all three girls"--Provided by publisher.

A guide to helping transgender children and youth with mental health, family relations, and other issues they may face.

"When he graduated from Harvard Medical School, Jim O'Connell was asked by the medical school Dean to spend one year setting up a program to care for the homeless population in Boston. It became Jim O'Connell's life calling, to help people known as 'rough sleepers.' For the past three decades, Dr. O'Connell has run the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, which he helped to create. Affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital, the program includes clinics and a van on which Dr. O'Connell and his staff ride through the Boston streets at night, offering outreach of medical care, socks, soup, and friendship to a marginalized community"--Provided by publisher.

"When Kip Tiernan was growing up during the Great Depression, she'd help her granny feed the men who came to their door asking for help. As Kip grew older, and as she continued to serve food to hungry people, she noticed something peculiar: huddled at the back of serving lines were women dressed as men. At the time, it was believed that there were no women experiencing homelessness. And yet Kip would see women sleeping on park benches and searching for food in trash cans. Kip decided to open the first shelter for women--a shelter with no questions asked, no required chores, just good meals and warm beds. With persistence, Kip took on the city of Boston in her quest to open Rosie's Place, our nation's first shelter for women. Christine McDonnell, a former educator at Rosie's Place, and illustrator Victoria Tentler-Krylov bring warmth to Kip Tiernan's story of humanity and tenacity, showing readers how one person's dream can make a huge difference, and small acts of kindness can lead to great things"--From the publisher's web site.

"From helping at a homeless shelter to helping make sure an area gets enough funding to support its homeless population, there are many ways to volunteer for the homeless. Some people organize events that gather donations for the homeless, while others help serve homeless people food. [This book] . . . examines different volunteer opportunities and how to get involved"--.

"From helping an elderly neighbor to comforting people in their last days, there are many ways to volunteer for the elderly. Some people lead activities at assisted living places or nursing homes, while others simply sit and chat with residents. 'Volunteering for the Elderly' examines different volunteer opportunities and how to get involved"--Provided by publisher.