From working class to working poor: the death of industry in America's heartland -- Medicaid, welfare reform, and low-wage work in the new economy -- Family matters: divorce and domestic violence -- Who cares for the caregivers? Love as a portal into the death spiral -- The fox guarding the henhouse: work-related injuries and the vagaries of workers' compensation -- Risky business: the self-employed, small business owners, and other American entrepreneurs -- Young, sick, and part-time: the vulnerability of youth and the new American job market -- Mental health matters: a Mexican immigrant hits the bureaucratic wall -- Race matters: health care stories from black America -- Descent through the death spiral -- Moving forward.