It has been said that the moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable citizens. Those who enter the field of child life daily encounter those in our society who are among the most vulnerable ... vulnerable because of their age and their ways of interpreting the world, vulnerable because of their physical circumstances, vulnerable because of the unfamiliar they encounter, vulnerable at times because of additional barriers such as language, poverty or prejudice. Yet, the child life specialist understands that each individual, despite the vulnerabilities he or she may bring to an encounter, also brings strength and resiliency. The task of the child life specialist is to build upon those strengths and to minimize individual vulnerability and maximize the growth of the individual. This book addresses the most important aspects of the practice of child life. The book is geared toward an audience beyond the introductory level and includes information on the state of the art in each chapter covered. Wherever possible, the book demonstrates application of the contents in practice through case studies. The goal of this text is to assist in this process, drawing upon the expertise of leading figures in the field to help provide child life specialists, and other allied health professionals, with the knowledge and skills they will need to accomplish this important task. Book jacket.