Make a Difference: A Spectacular Breakthrough in the Fight Against Poverty

We now know the answers to helping long time welfare recipients become self-sufficient, and how to pry loose the dead hand of human service bureaucracies.

"I enjoy coming to work and learning different things...I really like my kids to know I work...This should have happened 10 years ago...I believe many of my friends wouldn't do no drugs if they had a chance for a real job." - Rebecca, a woman from Chicago's notorious housing projects, high school dropout and former welfare recipient now working at UPS.

The problems with welfare systems is not a lack of funds, but rather failure to connect the funds to families and communities in a way that makes a difference in people's lives. Through involvement with welfare recipients, community leaders, caseworkers and others, author Gary MacDougal and Illinois Governor Jim Edgar led the state government in its biggest reorganization since 1900, creating a model for the rest of the nation.