Early services were organized on a largely voluntary, nonprofit basis. Today, child welfare services include foster and emergency care, protection for abused and neglected children, counseling, day care services, and services to parents. Local child welfare agencies are under the supervision of or are operated by State agencies. Core public and voluntary organizations relate to many other human services organizations. The overall pattern of services relating to abused and neglected children is extensive and there is no agreement on the boundaries of these services. Similarly, there is much overlap in local, State and Federal responsibilities with respect to such services. Recent reforms in practice and administrative procedures in child welfare services have been cognizant of the economic and psychological costs associated with policies that have encouraged foster placement of abused and neglected children. The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 sets the groundwork for new policies emphasizing prevention, improved services for families and children, and permanency planning. Such policies will require changes in the present uncoordinated, loosely structured, and open-market pattern of service delivery. The archaic and proliferating complex of subfields and specializations within social welfare services has resulted in waste, inefficiency, confusion, and fragmentation. New goals of family maintenance and prevention will require a restructuring and coordination of the current network of service delivery. This, in turn, will require an active and strong role of Government in policy, planning, funding, and coordination of comprehensive services. Included are 24 references.