May 1996, Vol. 2, No. 3

Our Place in the Village: A Message to Social Workers
By Sandra Solove, second year student in the clinical concentration.

The title "It Takes a Village" was taken from the African proverb, "It takes a whole village to raise a child." Hillary Rodham Clinton defines the "village" we live in today as a global "network of values and relationships that support and affect our lives." As social workers that village includes us, even if we don't work directly with children or children's issues. Clinical or policy/administration, no matter the setting, social workers are a vital part of the village.

Rodham Clinton addresses nearly every issue that affects children in American society, from education and religion to big business. Every chapter contains innovative programs, research and policies that attempt to solve seemingly unsolvable problems. These examples are taken from all over the globe, making It Takes a Village a mini-resource guide. Perspectives from experts in child development, like pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton, are included along with views from a wide array of professionals and advocates. Professor Froma Walsh from The School of Social Service Administration discusses her research on families in the media.

Some have criticized the book for being "fluff" and not exploring in-depth the issues facing children today. However, Ms. Rodham Clinton did not write this book specifically for "policy wonkers" and clinicians. This is a basic book exploring children's lives and solutions to their problems. It is a well-written book for the general public, and it includes vignettes from the First Family's private life. All of this does not mean that "professionals" will find nothing useful in the book. There are valuable messages and creative ideas concerning all American citizens, children and adults. Many of us are aware of the programs, research and policies contained in the book some were created by graduates and professors at SSA. In this way, this book acts as a simple reminder of what we all know concerning children and families. Hillary Rodham Clinton writes, "If we as a village decide not to help families develop their children's brains, then at least let us admit that we are acting not on the evidence but according to a different agenda." The First Lady's accurate assessment provides a sobering and accurate message for anyone concerned with future generations.

Sandra Solove is a second-year clinical student.
Her placement is at the Department of Social Service at the University of Chicago Hospitals.

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