Controversial social problems currently facing Americans are addressed in these 12 astute bibliographic essays that synthesize the literature on the issues and outline strategies for locating additional information. A few of the issues covered are media and popular culture; public policy and government; law and the administration of the justice system; poverty, welfare, and unemployment; child care and elder care; hunger and nutrition; homelessness; and children and the changing American family. The essays provide thoughtful examinations of the issues, discuss possible resolutions, and present lists of resources for further study. An essential purchase for college and university libraries, this work is also appropriate for high school libraries and medium to large public libraries. It can be used as a supplementary text for sociology, social work, public policy, family studies, education, and nursing courses that involve the study of contemporary social issues, and as a handbook by practitioners i