by Ian O'Connor
First published 2003
Sarah Mitchell clocks in for another day at the municipal welfare office, case files stacked high on her desk. Each folder contains a family struggling to navigate bureaucratic requirements while fighting to keep their lives together. When the Henderson case lands on her desk, Sarah discovers that following protocol might destroy the very people she entered social work to help. The single mother of three faces benefit cuts that could leave her children homeless, but Sarah's attempts to advocate within the system meet resistance from supervisors focused on budget constraints rather than human need. As Sarah pushes against institutional barriers, she must decide whether to risk her career to do what she believes is right. O'Connor examines the daily battles fought by those who work within flawed systems while trying to serve vulnerable populations.
Genres: contemporary, social-work, social-welfare, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, social-commentary
Setting: Municipal Welfare Office
Period: Contemporary
278 pages · Paperback · Pearson Education