Case studies are cited to illustrate legal foundations of children's law that pertain to family breakdown or other circumstances that place a child within the sphere of one or more community legal systems. The case studies show that although community intervention usually has good intentions, agencies can blunder with tragic results. Part I contains chapters that examine the legal concept of the best interests of the child and who has professional responsibility for children. Part II contains chapters that examine various forms of child maltreatment and remedial strategies. The forms of harm considered are physical abuse, sexual abuse, substance abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. In addressing the options for remediation, Part III considers family support to prevent placement, the child in court, foster care and guardianship, termination of parental rights, and adoption. Part IV discusses other areas of legal involvement for children; they include education and children with disabilities, mental health issues, and delinquency. 352 references and a subject index