"In this thoughtful and original work, Leslie Paik shows the challenges families face as they interact with multiple institutions. Her access to family life was incredible, and the result is a nuanced portrait of the experiences of low-income families. She compellingly demonstrates how families work hard to navigate institutions--but still remain trapped. Highly recommended!"--Annette Lareau, author of Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life "This book draws on impressive data to show how families with troubles navigate complex and contradictory bureaucratic institutions. Explicating interconnections across agencies, rules, and experiences, it is an important contribution to our understanding of families' lived experiences."--Jennifer A. Reich, author of Fixing Families: Parents, Power, and the Child Welfare System