The Dependent Child

By Henry Winfred Thurston

"The Dependent Child" is an authoritative and comprehensive examination of the history and evolution of child welfare and social services. Written by Henry W. Thurston, a significant figure in social work education, the work explores how society has historically managed and cared for children who are orphaned, neglected, or otherwise without traditional family support. The text provides a detailed account of the transition from early practices such as indenture, almshouses, and orphanages to the more contemporary systems of foster care and specialized institutional support.

Through a careful analysis of social shifts and legislative changes, Thurston documents the changing attitudes toward childhood and the growing recognition of the state's responsibility to protect its most vulnerable citizens. "The Dependent Child" serves as both a historical record and a critical analysis of the philosophies that shaped early 20th-century social work. It offers valuable context for understanding the development of professionalized child care and the moral imperatives that drove social reform. This work remains a significant resource for sociologists, social historians, and child welfare advocates seeking to understand the foundations of modern child protection and support systems.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025592263
• ISBN13: 9781025592268
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.8" x 6.1"