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Research shows a close connection between domestic violence and child maltreatment. In recent years, there has been an increased recognition of this by child welfare professionals. However, little empirical work has been done on the actual assessments and interventions of frontline child welfare workers in relationship to domestic violence. Through surveying public child welfare workers in a Midwestern community, this article examines these issues.

This study examines the use of psychotropic drugs with 473 European American and American Indian children in foster care. Prescription data for seven categories of psychotropic drugs were obtained from Medical Assistance records for the year 2000. European American and American Indian children constituted 60% and 33% of the sample, respectively. Forty-three percent of the children received psychotropic medication. Usage among males was higher than females (45% vs. 35%). For children under the age of 8 usage ranged from 2% to 30%; more than 50% of the older children were medicated. Most frequently used drugs were antidepressants and stimulants. Proportionately more European American children received drugs than American Indian children (48% vs. 34%), but usage of different categories of psychotropic across racial groups was similar. The authors discuss tentative hypotheses for differences between the present and previous studies as well as for the disproportionate use of psychotropic drugs across racial groups.

Creative approaches are needed to help asset-deprived, working poor families. The author evaluates the effectiveness of one such program, the Duluth (MN) Lutheran Social Service Loan Fund Program, which provides low-interest loans to low-income families to help them confront transitional financial crises that prevent them from either continuing their education or maintaining their job. As a result of a partnership between a local human service agency and a community bank, loan recipients are able to build their credit ratings with the bank through timely repayment of their loans. This study shows that the loan fund increased recipients' long-range financial stability and that recipients were highly satisfied with the program.