Between 243,000 and 274,000 children are estimated to live in foster homes, group homes, and residential treatment centers. At least 80,000 young people live in juvenile detention centers and training schools. Children who end up in foster care ranged from "troubled kids" to "kids in trouble," and many come from poor families. Possible ways of keeping families together include the prevention of unnecessary foster care placement and family intervention (family preservation services, family counseling, and child protective services). The legislative framework for family preservation is discussed, including the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act and the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act. The importance of adequate State and local planning to keep families intact and protect children is stressed. Particular attention is paid to centralized State planning, service coordination, the education of judges, the improvement of relations between social workers and the courts, legal representation for parents and children, and training for professionals involved in family-based work and for those who work with minority families. 64 references.