The new politics of child and family policies.

Given the slowdown in the legislative process and the absence of any closure on the proposed congressional initiatives on social safety net programs, the specifics of the policy developments are still unclear. What is clear, however, is that the United States is entering a period of social policy devolution, federal (and probably state) funding cuts for social benefits and services, and a major philosophical shift in the premises underlying social policy. These policy trends have major implications for the social work profession, for practitioners at all levels, for educators, and most important for low-income and vulnerable children and their families. Social workers need to become informed about these developments if they are to be effective practitioners, teachers, and advocates.