Child and youth care work is presented within a developmental perspective. The roles of residential group care and emergency shelters are discussed, as well as research and development projects on residential treatment centers. The therapeutic benefits of child care programs are presented along with a call for the restructuring of some childrens' programs and the use of teamwork as a method of treatment design. The past, present, and future roles of child care workers, their credibility in the courtroom, and their training and education are reviewed. The value of becoming aware of learning styles in the supervisory process and the role of the administrator in the development and maintenance of programs are discussed. In the area of professionalization of child care, the use of the media in obtaining public support and credibility for child care work and the integration of research and practice in child care training are recommended. Chapter references.