THERE is no field of social work that is more complicated in organization and development than that of work for children. In it may be included such varied services as the following: the care of children in institutions, in foster homes for adoption, in temporary shelters, in free boarding and wage homes without any consideration of adoption; the care of children in day nurseries; the investigation of cases of dependent children with the hope that readjustment of their own homes may be brought about either through regular relief funds or through mothers' assistance funds; the investigation of delinquent children and probation service; the protection of children from neglect, cruelty, and immorality; the protection of children from exploitation through child labor; the work of visiting teachers; the social service connected with child guidance clinics; the planning and supervision involved in a recreational program. For the purpose of this paper, we shall confine ourselves, however, to a discussion of the training of those who will be employed in social case work, and specifically that division of social case work which deals distinctly with children's problems. The standard of care of socially dependent children, who, according to the federal census of 1923, numbered about 250,000 being cared for away from their own homes, is on the whole poor, although there are a number of agencies that must certainly be classed as doing excellent work, and an additional group doing fair work. The care of these children is an old service, almost to be classed as an old occupation, with deep-rooted habits of practice that have survived in large measure whatever usefulness they may once have had. This service is enmeshed in sentiment which, however kindly, makes the work ineffective unless it becomes enlightened by knowledge. It is safe to say that the quality of work done in behalf of dependent, neglected, and delinquent children ranges all the way from excellence