First published in 1994. While not setting out to write a book about social policy, Ivanoff, Blythe and Tripodi, seasoned and well-known contributors to the spirited debate on the proper relationship of research and practice methods in direct services, have, nonetheless, delivered much useful commentary on how those direct services resources ought best be deployed. This book is to a clear call for commitment of skilled professional resources for those citizens whose serious and often multiple problems have already deeply involved them in public sector services.