volunteer workers in social service

Janice Erlbaum recounts her experiences working with the residents of a homeless shelter she lived at more than twenty years earlier, reflecting on her friendship with one troubled young woman who reminded Janice of the girl she used to be.

Traces the history and evolution of poverty in the United States from colonial times to the early twenty-first century, and includes chronologies, eyewitness testimony, photographs and illustrations, maps, brief biographies of notable people, and excerpts from primary source documents.

Examines the opportunities which teenagers have for volunteering, and explores the controversial issue of school-mandated community service programs which are required for graduation.