The new edition of Exploring Child Welfare reflects the author's strong practice perspective and incorporates new developments in welfare reform and child welfare services. The text provides a practical and thorough introduction to child welfare and welfare services. The author's strength is her ability to connect the underlying theories and systems of child welfare with real-life practice experience, stemming from over thirty years' experience in working with children and families. This edition was revised in response to feedback from both students and instructors, and includes a new focus on attachment theory and its utilization in child welfare services. The chapter on child abuse and neglect is presented earlier in the text, since it is often the basis of the need for children's services. Material in all chapters has been revised and updated to reflect recent thought and research in the field.