Through an analysis of the historical and economic factors in the development of the class structure of the city of Salta in northern Argentina, the efforts to cope with poverty and other environmental weaknesses through governmental and private action are described, and a strong case is made for the need to enrich the quality of life of the very young by giving support to the home, school, and community social services. The system of England and Wales designed to deal with children in need of care, protection, and control is presented, as developments in this area are traced from the children's charter of 1908 through a long series of debates and changes culminating in the controversial Children and Young Persons Act of 1969. The chapter on France shows how a well-integrated approach to children's problems can result from various disciplines having the will to work together for children, and a clinical approach to the problems of children in the Federal Republic of Germany analyzes the effects of the changing family structure on children, emphasizing the importance of parental responsibility. The chapter on Scotland depicts an attempt to create an alternative to the juvenile court through the use of children's panels, while the discussion of Spain deals with the social and legal aspects of problems pertaining to children in need of care, protection, and control. An account is given of the state of the juvenile justice system in the United States, as the growth of the juvenile court is considered, and the Gault case and subsequent related juridical decisions are discussed. Policies and practices for the protection and guidance of children in Yugoslavia are presented, with emphasis on problemsolving at the earliest possible stage in the development of the child. Brief bibliographies accompany some of the chapters, and footnotes are provided, as well as a subject index. For volume 3, see NCJ 88552.