Thomas was a twelve-year-old, fatherless boy with a wet bed. He learned that the other kids didn't care about the truth, only about the bigger and better rumor. But Thomas cared about the truth; that is, he wanted to know what the truth was. Did he have an adventure, both defeating an evil enemy and learning valuable lessons of life and faith, or was it all a wild dream induced by the drugs the doctor had pumped into his body to keep him alive? Of course, nobody else could solve this dilemma for Thomas. If he tried to explain it, people would tell him he was crazy, or they would accuse him of lying to get attention. The problem was Thomas's to solve. If God is a father of the fatherless, why does Thomas feel he needs the rope?

This volume culls the most important and provocative research and policy analysis in the child welfare field and is an essential guide for understanding the burgeoning field of children's services.

Thomas was a twelve-year-old, fatherless boy with a wet bed. He learned that the other kids didn't care about the truth, only about the bigger and better rumor. But Thomas cared about the truth; that is, he wanted to know what the truth was. Did he have an adventure, both defeating an evil enemy and learning valuable lessons of life and faith, or was it all a wild dream induced by the drugs the doctor had pumped into his body to keep him alive? Of course, nobody else could solve this dilemma for Thomas. If he tried to explain it, people would tell him he was crazy, or they would accuse him of lying to get attention. The problem was Thomas's to solve. If God is a father of the fatherless, why does Thomas feel he needs the rope?

This volume culls the most important and provocative research and policy analysis in the child welfare field and is an essential guide for understanding the burgeoning field of children's services.