Child welfare services are intended to prevent the abuse or neglect of children and to ensure that children have safe, permanent homes, in addition to promoting the well-being of children and their families. Most federal child welfare programs are administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This book provides an overview of the federal role in the assistance and improvement of child welfare services. Discussed in this compilation are The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008; Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for children in foster care; and the most recent and proposed federal funding for child welfare programs

The programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) form the foundation for the nation's social insurance network that has greatly reduce poverty among the elderly through the retirement and survivors program and provides income support to people with disabilities, widows and widowers, and young children. This book addresses the current challenges facing the Social Security Administration including issues for disability and dependent benefits, the implications of different indexing choices, the need for greater transparency with regard to general revenue financing, possible effects on the elderly poor and mitigation options, legal analysis and the costs of reform.

An exploration of the ways in which ancient theories of empire can inform our understanding of present-day international relations, Enduring Empire engages in a serious discussion of empire as it relates to American foreign policy and global politics.

The imperial power dynamics of ancient Athens and Rome provided fertile ground for the deliberations of many classical thinkers who wrote on the nature of empire: contemplating political sovereignty, autonomy, and citizenship as well as war, peace, and civilization in a world where political boundaries were strained and contested. The contributors to this collection prompt similar questions with their essays and promote a serious contemporary consideration of empire in light of the predominance of the United States and of the doctrine of liberal democracy.

Featuring essays from some of the leading thinkers in the fields of political science, philosophy, history, and classics, Enduring Empire illustrates how lessons gleaned from the Athenian and Roman empires can help us to understand the imperial trajectory of global politics today.

The Home Health Care Answer Book will help new and existing home healt h agencies quickly find answers to specific legal questions. It compre hensively addresses all legal aspects of home health care in an easy-t o-use, question-and-answer format, organized by topic.

This book deals with European labour law and industrial relations. It covers legislation concerning relations between employers and employees, collective agreements and the case law of the Court of Justice, as well as the structure an strategies of social actors. The book consists of three parts; a general section devoted to individual labour law and a section that deals with collective labour law. The tenth edition is a revised and all the latest developments are covered.

Everybody uses the term 'social security,' but definitions vary widely. This unique book may be conceived as a wide-ranging definition, although in fact, it emphasizes only part of the concept: that administrative function that grants cash benefits to offset or compensate for such 'social risks' as old age, disability, unemployment, costs of health care, and other instances occasioning the lack of means necessary for a decent existence. In an earlier form (1993), this book proved itself as a much-sought-after introduction to the field, for governments as much as for law students. In this completely revised and updated work, Professor Pieters again offers, this time to a new generation of scholars and policymakers, a common language and structure with which to talk and think about social security. The presentation is both abstract (theory of social security) and concise (structure of social security systems). In taking into account the diversity of ways in which social security has been shaped by priorities of place and time, Dr. Pieters delineates the distinct alternatives that can be adhered to in establishing a social security system. He builds a frame in which these various concepts, principles, options, and techniques can be put into perspective. Although this approach hints at a 'common law' of social security, Dr Pieters goes no further in that direction than a brief general survey (in his last chapter) of the possible features of a comparative social security law. "Social Security: An Introduction to the Basic Principles" is sure to find a welcome among many sectors of the legal and policy communities. Full of insight and information, and eminently readable, the book may be seen in a number of different ways: as a road map explaining the social security systems of various states; as an overview of the various options available for building a social security system; as an exploration of the possibilities of rethinking or reforming an existing system; as the first tentative step toward a scientific discipline of comparative social security law; and much else besides.

The law of dependent work relations in contemporary Hellas combines a number of historical trends, including a unique communal and mercantile collectivism that has flourished for many centuries and survived the Turkish occupation. The country's venerable democratic traditions have ensured its early adoption of such international developments as trade unions, collective bargaining, social insurance, ILO conventions and EC labour directives. This text provides a survey of the subject that is both usefully brief and sufficiently detailed to answer most questions likely to arise in any legal setting pertaining to labour and industrial relations in Hellas. The reader should find clear and concise discussion of such topics as: social security; deregulation; the individual employment contract; government agencies affecting labour; significant jurisprudence; competitive examinations; the right to non-performance; duties of the employer; privacy and harassment; leave of absence; forms of remuneration; termination of employment; employers'associations; and strikes and lock-outs.

Taken in conjunction with the European Works Council Directive and the European Company Statute, the EC directive on information and consultation rights of employees aims to strengthen a growing spirit of co-operation between employees and employers. This book offers in-depth analysis, legislative history, and documentation of the interwoven genesis of these three crucially important labour law initiatives and their impact on industrial relations and HRM. Questions central to both the legislative debate and to this book include: how will the information and consultation rights be organised?; what can be learned from the experience of the European Works Council Directive (1994), now that more than 600 EWCs have been established by agreements between management and labour?; what is the role of trade unions and collective bargaining?; what role can employees play in the exercise of managerial prerogative?; what will be the impact on the employability of the employees?; how does the European Works Council relate to the European Company Statute?; how will the presence of employees' representatives in the supervisory board of the companies be organised?; how will the Directive be implemented in the EU member states? ; and how much room is there for national employment systems in implementing the directives? In his analysis, Professor Blanpain shows that European law-makers are now answering these questions, aiming at clarity and coherence in their definitions (especially in the European Company Statute) of such terms as "involvement," "consultation," "information," and "participation," although they are careful to leave the notion of managerial prerogative intact. The legal texts and penetrating commentary in the book galvanize the notions and concepts that surround this important issue.

A number of practices in the "wired" workplace threaten several fundamental rights. More and more, employees are expected to curtail their right to communicate and their right to access to information. Their right to privacy may also be breached by monitoring of their e-mail and Internet activity. Although employers have legitimate reasons for such restrictive or invasive measures and clearly have their own right to supervise the use of company property it can no longer be denied that the legal and even moral issues that arise from the reality of work in the information society demand serious and detailed consideration if labour law's role as a vital component of the employment relationship is to survive. The Conference, held in Brussels in November 2000, was co-sponsored by the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts, Union Network International, UNI-Europa, and the Euro-Japan Institute for Law and Business. Participants analyzed trends and the possibilities and opportunities to communicate, monitoring included, in order to clarify such issues as the following: "on-line rights" and the form they should take in the workplace; employer liability for damage to third parties caused by e-mail or Internet activity; sexual harassment via e-mail or Internet activity; protection against hackers and other security measures; safeguarding confidentiality, both employer's and employee's; and the right to personal use of the company's communications technology.

This valuable symposium addresses such provocative questions as:
- To what extent can sexual harassment claims be meaningfully addressed by existing laws such as the National Labor Relations Act and state and federal anti-discrimination statutes?
- Are employer sexual harassment policy initiatives on a collision course with the First Amendment?
- What rights do accused employees have?
- When are employers liable for sexual harassment?
- Can investigations of sexual harassment claims be conducted meaningfully without violating legitimate confidentiality privileges?

Originally published as a special issue of the European Journal of Social Security, issue 4, Volume 2, this book aims to review and discuss the disability policies that have developed in six Western countries in recent years. What have been the major changes? Have the disability policies of these countries become more similar in the course of the 1990s? If so, is is possible to identify a closer relationship between the emerging EU Disability Strategy and national policy developments in this area? The countries discussed - Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain - are all represented in an academic network on vocational rehabilitation of disabled people that seeks to understand and compare policy developments in the field. All articules include detailed information on recent changes in disability policies in the respective countries.

Substantial progress has been made in the last 15 years in the areas of European economic, social and monetary integration, aided by social dialogue on employment and industrial relations at the international level. To be truly effective, the social dialogue has to be underpinned by an awareness of the different national industrial relations systems. This two-volume series sets out to provide information on the varied systems found across the EU, describing and analysing the key elements and concepts of industrial relations in the different Member States, from a comparative perspective. The contributions focus on three principal aspects of comparative industrial relations: an analysis of the strikingly similar pressures for industrial relations in each country; the degree to which the institutional arrangements have retained their national identities despite such pressures; and the evolution of industrial relations within this context. Countries covered in this volume are: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain.

The role of state or the function of labour law during industrialization in Asian countries is of utmost importance when examining how Asian labour laws differ from European or American labour law models and whether or not any common characteristics exist in Asian labour law. The seven national reports (Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan) included in this volume provide an overview of the regulation of union organization, collective bargaining, and industrial disputes. These reports also analyze the role of government in industrial relations in the course of economic development. In regulations on formation of labour unions, some countries, such as Japan, have the least government intervention whereas other countries, for example Korea and Taiwan, have experienced more direct government control through imposition of certain forms of labour unions or registration requirements and procedures. The same applies to regulations on collective bargaining and industrial disputes. For instance, in Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia violation of collective agreements is not only sanctioned by civil liability but is also criminally punished. A review of the national reports reveals that while diversity in labour laws exists in the Asian countries represented, the significant role of government in labour relations is widely recognized. Whether the government's significant role in industrial relations in Asian countries is a transitional phenomena which takes place during economic development and maturity of democracy, or whether Asian labour law is heading for a new labour law model which differs from the western model, should be further examined. The national papers in this volume provide fundamental information on current labour laws in Asian countries and on comparable characteristics in western labour law models.

The system of representation where children and young people are provided with both a social work guardian ad litem and a specialist solicitor is widely regarded as a model of excellence. However, until now, information about the system and its advantages has tended to neglect the views and experiences of the children concerned. Based on a unique research study, Out of Hearing investigates the representation service from the child s perspective. Observations of representatives meetings with their child clients and separate interviews with the children and their representatives paint a disturbing picture of the isolation of children at a time of immense stress and upheaval. Feedback from children about what they considered helpful or unhelpful in the actions of their representatives; their views about reading, or not seeing, court reports about themselves; and their feelings about going to court, or being excluded from its proceedings, convey powerful messages to the professionals and practitioners seeking to help them. Drawing on these experiences, the authors offer recommendations for practice and policy to enable children s views to be heard more effectively. Providing fresh insight into the representation service, Out of Hearing is essential reading for solicitors, guardians ad litem, social workers, judges, magistrates, policy makers, and academics. It will also be of interest to children s rights organisations, young people and charities.
"Whatever one may make of the conclusions of the report, what it undeniably does is paint a very graphic picture indeed of the impact of the process of care proceedings upon children. For this reason (if for no other) it should be read by all childcare law practitioners." Philip Thomson Head of Legal Services, Essex County Council
"The views and aspirations of the children really do shine through; their concerns and their agendas are set out clearly and illuminated vividly." Anna Faulkner Formerly Panel Manager, Inner and North London GALRO Panel

Covering significant European legislation passed in the late-1990s, this text starts with the European Works Council Directive of 22nd December 1994 and ends with the Treaty of Amsterdam presented in June 1997. The bulk of the text focuses upon the European Works Council Directive, which is currently in force throughout all EU Member States and the EEA countries, except the UK. The discussion centres on the implementation process in the Member States, with national reports presented in alphabetical order by country, and additional reports from EEA countries, North America and Japan. Further topics presented and examined in this book include: Article 13 pre-directive agreements; progress toward negotiating Article 6 agreements; Fundamental Social Rights and their treatment at the Intergovernmental Conference of June 1997; and developments on working time regulations within the EU.

This work offers a world-wide analysis of the changing role of the contract of employment in modern societies. The central question in this book is whether the contract of employment still serves its traditional purpose in a period marked by the so-called "globalization of the economy" with the concomitant calls for flexibility in, and deregulation of, the labour markets in capitalist countries. Authors from a number of European countries, as well as Japan, Australia and the United States, have contributed to this comparative exercise which provides useful reading for anyone interested in the restructuring which labour relations must undergo to meet the demands of a newly emerging (post-) industrial society.

The workers in modern businesses face growing pressure as they attempt to combine their work with a family life and its associated responsibilities. This is a relevant issue in many countries, but the approaches taken by governments, trades unions and employers' organizations show a great variety. This text includes seven national reports, representing a wide spectrum of approaches and measures. A review of the national reports reveals the variety of national approaches. In many cases, measures such as flexible working hours and part-time working have been adopted without the specific intention of facilitating working and family life, but the result has nevertheless been beneficial in this area. Other countries have made the harmonization of work and family life the hallmark of their labour relations systems.

During the 1960s a new breed of "poverty lawyers"-in collaboration with welfare recipient activists-mounted a legal campaign to create a constitutional right to welfare. The collaboration worked significant changes in the social welfare system of the United States and in the scope of individual constitutional rights. In this book, Martha F. Davis tells the behind-the-scenes story of the strategies, successes, failures, and frustrations of that important campaign. Drawing on interviews with many of the people who participated in the welfare rights movement, as well as on original sources, Davis traces the historical and philosophical connections among welfare rights lawyers, the settlement house movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and the civil rights movement, and she shows how the legal campaign for the poor followed and built on the litigation strategies developed by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund's earlier effort to desegregate the public schools. She outlines the creation of welfare law in the 1960s and provides the first detailed account of the strategy to use law as a mechanism for organizing and expanding the rights of welfare recipients. She vividly describes seminal cases and individual lawyers and activists, including Edward Sparer, the lawyer acknowledged as the father of welfare law; George Wiley, founder of the National Welfare Rights Organization; and Charles Reich, whose theories were crucial to the formulation of the plaintiffs' position in Goldberg v. Kelly, the landmark case that argued that welfare benefits were protected by the due process clause and should not be terminated without a hearing. Even though 1960s welfare rights litigation was ultimately unsuccessful in broadly reforming the welfare system, Davis shows the important role legal strategies and lawyers themselves have played in this social movement of the poor.

Even in countries which regard themselves as model democracies such as The United States of America the situation at the workplace may be entirely different with regard to the basic freedoms and equal treatment. In the USA, which is a genuine democracy in a political sense, the importance which is attached to democratic values is not always apparent in the codes of conduct in American enterprises and organizations. The degree to which democratic notions are put into practice in the industrial world is the basic theme of this 28th Bulletin entitled Employee Rights and Industrial justice. In the introductory chapter by Jacques Rojot the significance of the central theme, ethics in human resource management in the 1990s, its philosophical and practical meaning, as viewed from different perspectives, is discussed. This introduction is followed by general observations and points of view on the issue of employee rights and its ethical foundations. Hoyt N. Wheeler treats the subject of employee rights from the human rights perspective, while George E. Ogle, for instance, discusses its religious dimension. The third and last part of Employee Rights and Industrial Justice is devoted to the situation and views which exist in different countries and the differences and similarities that may exist between them. The article, by Frank M. Horwitz, for instance, treats the current situation in South Africa, with regard to democracy in industry and in the political system. Other interesting topics include nonunion grievance procedures and due process in the workplace.

Presenting a selection of key issues in the field of international labour law, this work deals with some of the most pressing problems facing governments, employers and workers. Extensive consideration is given to developments with regard to the right to freedom of association, the problems of forced labour, equality of treatment, and working conditions in general, the position of young persons, migrant workers and women. The author examines the most recent case law of the ILO and other international supervisory bodies, including the cases of the German "Berufsverbote". the British GCHQ and the Romanian "systematic policy". The work offers an assimilation of information and analysis across a subject area which has remained largely untouched. It should be of value to academic lawyers, legal practitioners, trade union and employer association officials, as well as to a wide range of professionals in associated fields.

Collected in this volume are papers presented at an international symposium in comparative industrial relations held in Bologna on 11 January 1991, organized by SINNEA, research and training institute, in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University. Key issues such as collective bargaining, health and safety matters, dismissal law and atypical labour are discussed in a comparative perspective in connection with the working environment of the small and medium-sized enterprises.

Workers' participation continues to be an important and much debated, even contested, subject in industrial relations and human resource management. It is also a topic which evolves as the labour force becomes more educated, the economy more international and technology more advanced. It remains a culturaly inspired issue as the prevalent system of workers' participation in any given country abundantly reflects underlying societal and social values, which make each system, or the lack thereof, a unique experience and happening. This book is mainly based on country reports (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Latin America, Poland, the Netherlands, the USSR and the United States), giving a wealth of information. It focuses on the private sector and in this context it presents the story of Poland and the USSR at their initial steps in the privatization of parts of their economies.