Reviews the literature on the child welfare system, child maltreatment, interventions for child maltreatment, and family preservation programs. Concludes that the current goal of intensive family preservation services, reducing the number of children in out-of-home placement, should be abandoned. Proposes a new role, new goals, and a new target…

Examines what is known regarding Homebuilders-type family preservation programs and identifies gaps in knowledge. Proposes a knowledge development framework for appropriate future research that emphasizes the importance of theory, of focusing on specific problems, and of testing hypotheses that link conceptualization of problems, their causes, and…

Focuses on current knowledge of families' involvement in intensive family preservation services. Identifies gaps in knowledge pertaining to the context of service delivery, the theory of family preservation practice, the process of service delivery, and the conceptualization and meaning of service outcomes. Suggests that gaps might be…