Research Resources:
Subject Research Guides:
Social Work:
Government Resources
RU Libraries is a depository library that receives materials from Federal and New Jersey government agencies.
These materials may be in print, microform, CD-ROM, or online. Many specialized microform collections
supplement our holdings. Alexander Library keeps primarily those documents that are related to the
social sciences and humanities. Materials of a scientific or technical nature are at the Library of
Science and Medicine. However, Alexander Library retains all U.S.Congressional and N.J. Legislative
materials regardless of topic.
Federal
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
An online catalog of financial and nonfinancial assistance programs administered by
the Federal government.
Also available in print:
ALEXANDER: DOCUSR PREX2 .20; CAMDEN: DOCREF HC110.P63U53A; DANA: REF HC110.P65A556
GPO Access Home Page
GPO Access is a gateway to official information from all three branches of the Federal Government.
Congress & Legislation
Legislation Branch Resources via GPO Access
This page provides access to bills, public laws, congressional documents and reports. Although dates may vary by document, coverage generally begins 1993-1994.
THOMAS-Legislative Information on the Internet
THOMAS provides access to current and recent legislation, roll call votes, the Congressional Record, committee reports, bill summaries. Check this page for dates of coverage.
CIS Annual: Index, Abstracts and Legislative Histories
ALEXANDER: DOCREF KF49.C62 v.1-1970-; Legislative Histories located on Index Table 1
Comprehensive index to Congressional publications: hearings, reports, prints.
Legislative histories identify all relevant documents, coverage begins 1984.
The Libraries also have much of the accompanying microfiche.
Congressional Research Subject Guide
Consult this excellent guide to Congressional materials available at Alexander Library and on the Internet. See also
U.S. Congresses and their Equivalent Years.
Congressional Budget Office
The Congressional Budget Office provides objective, nonpartisan economic analyses of pending
legislation. The
Publications page provides access
by subject and document type.
Congressional Quarterly Almanac
ALEXANDER: DOCREF JK1.C66; DANA: REF JK1.C66
An annual yearbook that highlights key actions, compiles annual voting records, describes major
legislation, and analyzes Supreme Court decisions.
Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report-CQ Weekly
ALEXANDER: DOCREF JK1.C15; CAMDEN: PER; DANA: REF JK1.C15
Provides current non-partisan political analysis of Congress. Identifies major legislation, the issues
and players, and roll call votes. See the index on the back page of recent issues for the latest
information.
GAO Reports
The Government Accountability Office (formerly the General Accounting Office) supports the work of Congress by performing audits and evaluations of
government programs and activities. The majority of these reviews are made in response to specific
congressional requests. A searchable database goes back to 1975 and results display abstracts of GAO
reports and testimony with links to available electronic reports. This is an excellent source of
information regarding the effectiveness of social programs.
Green Book: Overview of Entitlement Programs 2008
This important resource from the House Ways and Means Committee provides descriptions and historical
information on major social and economic programs, as well as related programs and issues. Topics
covered include social security, Medicare, TANF, child support, child protection and foster care,
poverty, etc. Enabling legislation is noted and detailed tables are provided.
Chapters of the 2008 Green Book are being released progressively at the House Ways and Means Committee web site listed above.
Earlier versions back to
1996 can also be searched or browsed
here.
A standard reference source for information on the direction of social policy in the United States.
A print copy is also available:
ALEXANDER: DOCUS Y 4.W36:10-4/ 1991- LATEST ED DOCREF DESK
House Committee on Education and the Workforce
The Committee's basic jurisdiction is over education and labor matters generally, but it also
deals with the welfare of minors and related programs such as child abuse prevention.
Major Federal Legislation Concerned with Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption [PDF]
This fact book traces federal child welfare legislation from CAPTA, 1974 through legislation enacted in 2008.
Major Federal Legislation Index and Search
The acts on this page provide a framework for understanding the Federal legislation that has shaped the delivery of
child welfare services. Click on the P.L. number to access the summary of a specific act, including its major provisions
and a link to its full text.
Major Studies and Issue Briefs of the Congressional Research Service
ALEXANDER: DOCREF JK1108.G86 1916/1989; JK1108.G85 1989/90-2000 Cumulative Indexes
In response to requests from Congress, the CRS issues publications that
include background studies, pro and con arguments, in-depth policy and
legislative analysis, and legislative histories on subjects of interest
to Congress. We have much of the microfilm/microfiche set accessible via
the print indexes. Records for the more recent reports (approx. 2000+) are
in IRIS. Enter the terms "congressional research service and your topic".
Additionally, a limited number of reports are available on the Internet and searchable through the
OpenCRS,
University of North Texas Libraries, and
2 Act.
Summary of Welfare Reforms made by Public Law 104-293
U. S. House Ways and Means Committee print providing historical background of the 1996 Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act and summaries of the law by U.S. Code title.
Government Agencies
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
This is the current homepage for the federal department that oversees social and human services
programs. Brief descriptions and links to its major agencies follow below.
- Administration for Children & Families (ACF)
- This HHS agency is responsible for federal programs that promote the economic
and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. It oversees
numerous programs and administers TANF, Temporary Assistance to Needy
Families, the state-federal welfare program. The ACF has four major bureaus:
- Children's Bureau
- The oldest federal agency responsible for children, it assists the States in the
delivery of child welfare services.
Important links include:
Laws & Policies and Statistics.
The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to numerous publications that deal with child abuse, child welfare, and adoption
- Child Care Bureau
- This bureau administers federal funds to states, territories, and tribes to assist
low-income families in accessing quality child care for children.
- Family and Youth Services Bureau
- The FYSB supports local communities in providing services and
opportunities to young people, particularly runaway and homeless youth.
- Office of Head Start (formerly Head Start Bureau)
- Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development programs that serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families with the goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.
Administration on Aging (AOA)
Part of HHS, the AOA develops polices, plans, and programs that promote the welfare of the
elderly. It also supports a nationwide aging network that provides services to the elderly.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
This HHS agency conducts scientific research that provides evidence-based
information on health care outcomes, access, quality and cost, and use.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Formerly the Health Care Financing Administration, the centers administer
Medicare and Medicaid programs and the State Children's Health Insurance
Program.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
The mission of the HRSA is to assure the availability of quality health care to low-
income, uninsured, isolated, vulnerable and special needs populations. Key
programs include HIV/AIDS services, maternal and child health, and rural health
policy.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA is the HHS agency that focuses on the prevention and treatment of
substance abuse and mental disorders. Included are links to statistics and data,
workplace resources, mental health services, and addiction treatment.
Office of Human Services Policy (HSP)
This office focuses on welfare, poverty, service delivery issues, data for research,
and policies affecting children, youth and families. It is in the Office of the
Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation, HHS. Major areas the HSP covers with links for
publications and ongoing work are included. This is an important source of information on policy and
legislative developments.
U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
This federal department oversees and supports community development, access to affordable housing
programs, homelessness programs, etc. Useful links include those to homelessness, information by
state, and the library.
Social Security Online
This is the official website of the U.S. Social Security Administration. From a policy perspective,
the links to the
history of the social security program and in
particular, its
legislative history, are informative.
Laws & Regulations
Law About Topics
An alphabetical list of law topics that is part of the Legal Information Institute. Links to federal
and state statutes and judicial decisions related to the topics are provided, as well as international
material. Topics covered include adoption, child custody, children's rights, juvenile justice,
marriage, Medicaid, Medicare, welfare.
Legal Information Institute-Cornell Law School
Access to recent and historic Supreme Court decisions, the US Code, US Constitution, state and foreign
legal materials, court rules, and newsworthy decisions is provided.
U.S. Code Table of Popular Names
The Table of Popular Names is a list of common names for legislative acts. Where possible, the Legal
Information Institute has linked the Popular Names item to its relevant section of the U.S. Code.
Westlaw Campus Research Rutgers Restricted Access
Westlaw Campus Research covers thousands of publications, most of which are available in full text. It is especially
useful for legal research, as well as for current news coverage and business.
New Jersey
(see also:
New Jersey State and Local Governments-Internet Resources and Research Tools)
Legislation
New Jersey Legislature
- - Legislative Histories - New Jersey State Library
- Arranged by year (1998+) and by Chapter number. Citations to bills, reports, hearings,
newspaper articles, etc., and some full text links are included.
New Jersey Legislation Finding Aid
Consult this excellent guide to New Jersey materials available at Alexander Library and on the Internet.
Government Agencies
Department of Children and Families
Established in July, 2006 as the state's first Cabinet-level department focused solely on child and family welfare, this department now includes the Division of Youth and Family Services, Division of Children's Behavioral Health Services, Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships. See also
Child Welfare Statistics and Data.
Department of Education
The pull-down menu on this page includes links to Abbot Implementation, Charter schools,
No Child Left Behind NJ, and NJ education statistics.
Department of Health and Senior Services
See the pull-down menus on the left for divisions and programs, statistics, regulations, etc.
Department of Human Services (DHS)
The State's social service agency.
Division of Housing and Community Resources-Department of Community Affairs
This division "is committed to strengthening and revitalizing communities through the delivery of affordable housing, supportive services and the provision of financial and technical assistance to communities, local government and community based organizations."
New Jersey Office of the Child Advocate
Established by statute on September 26, 2003, Public Law 2003, c. 187, the Office of the Child Advocate investigates, reviews, monitors and evaluates State agency responses to allegations of child abuse or neglect in New Jersey, and makes recommendations for systemic and comprehensive reform.
Laws & Regulations
New Jersey Statutes Annotated
Alexander: DOCLAW-NJ (Stack 78)
New Jersey Register
Alexander: DOCLAW-NJ (Stack 78)
Dana: Current and Bound Periodicals
New Jersey Administrative Code
Available online
Alexander: DOCLAW-NJ (Stack 78)
New Jersey Judiciary
Westlaw Campus Research Rutgers Restricted Access
Westlaw Campus Research covers thousands of publications, most of which are available in full text. It is especially useful for legal research, as well as for current news coverage and business.
Other Government Related Organizations
National Conference of State Legislatures
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. In particular, select the Issue Areas tab.
National Governors' Association
"The National Governors Association--the bipartisan organization of the
nation's governors--promotes visionary state leadership, shares best practices
and speaks with a unified voice on national policy." This site provides
information about state policies and priorities-in particular, see the
Center for Best Practices.
Pew Center on the States-Stateline.org
This site provides state-by-state information and news on innovative public policies in the states, as well as statistics. Easy access to information is through the Issues link.
U.S. Conference of Mayors
The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. The site includes a database of city best practices and many reports and publications can be downloaded for free.
