Meeting the needs of children at the same time as promoting family life is more than a question of resources: it needs a culture change in social services - a rediscovery and a modernization of the social action and community development traditions in social work. In this text the authors argue that ways must be found to work together to promote environments in which children can flourish, and to develop forms of public life which are friendly to children and their parents. Recent changes in child care systems have put more pressures on those working in it. Social workers are open to public scrutiny and are expected to make provision for problems arising from areas of their clients' or services users' lives and to work in partnership with parents and with other professionals, and with community groups. The central aim of the text is to help those working in this field to find a more positive sense of direction and purpose.