In California, an ecological systems framework is used to guide analyses of administrative data from State and local agencies, taking into account community poverty and crime, child and family characteristics, educational services for serious emotional disturbance, and child welfare intervention levels (investigation, services without foster care, or foster care). The first investigation followed school-age children from the point of investigation for maltreatment to potential entry into California Youth Authority (CYA) in 10 counties. The second investigation presents a statewide analysis of the movement from child welfare supervised foster care to CYA. Results show that African-American children have the highest rate of involvement in the child welfare and CYA systems. Hispanic children have a similarly high risk for negative developmental outcomes following child welfare intervention. Child neglect needs to be considered as an equally significant risk factor for later developmental outcomes like serious juvenile crime. A child’s risk for poor outcomes like CYA entry and violent crime vary according to the timing of events like child welfare services and the gender of the child. Recurrent reports of maltreatment, multiple placement moves, and repeated spells in foster care are all considered negative system outcomes. Children of color that are reported for maltreatment experience a protective effect of higher levels of child welfare service. Children and youth were frequently facing more than one level of risk and were involved in more than one public service agency (child welfare, public schools, or probation). The child welfare system has a well developed service delivery and legal infrastructure in place that could provide more benefit than it does now if given the resources to provide or coordinate ongoing services to a higher proportion of children. 71 figures, 48 tables, 3 appendices