This book provides a comprehensive guide to recent development in the research and practice of assessing children in need. The book examines the policy framework for assessment, the process of assessment, and how to assess a child's developmental needs and the capacity of that child's parents and family to respond to those needs. Following an introduction, the chapters are: (1) "Assessing the World of the Child in Need: Background and Context" (Jan Horwath); (2) "Assessing Children in Need and Their Families: An Overview of the Framework" (Wendy Rose); (3) "Ecological Perspectives in Assessing Children and Families" (Gordon Jack); (4) "The Core Assessment Process: How To Synthesize Information and Make Judgements" (Margaret Adcock); (5) "Assessment of Parental Motivation To Change" (Jan Horwath and Tony Morrison); (6) "Empowering Children and Family Members To Participate in the Assessment Process" (Yvonne Shemmings and David Shemmings); (7) "Entering the Child's World: Communicating with Children To Assess Their Needs" (Anne Bannister); (8) "Assessing Children and Families Who Belong to Minority Ethnic Groups" (Nick Banks); (9) "Supervising Assessments of Children and Families: The Role of the Front Line Manager" (Rosemary Gordon and Enid Hendry); (10) "The Developmental Needs of Children: Implications for Assessment" (Harriet Ward); (11) "Promoting Positive Outcomes for Children in Need: The Assessment of Protective Factors" (Robbie Gilligan); (12) "Attachment" (David Howe); (13) "The Assessment of Children with Complex Needs" (Ruth Marchant); (14) "Young Carers: Needs, Rights and Assessments" (Chris Dearden and Saul Becker); (15) "Assessment Prior to Birth" (Di Hart); (16) "The Assessment of Parental Capacity" (David Jones); (17) "When Parents' Issues Influence Their Ability To Respond to Children's Needs" (Hedy Cleaver); (18) "Implementing the 'Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and Their Families' When the Parent Has a Learning Disability" (David Cotson, Joanne Friend, Sheila Hollins, and Helen James); (19) "Assessing Parental Capacity When Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse by an Adult Is a Concern" (Marcus Erooga and Bobbie Print); and (20) "Young People Who Sexually Abuse: Implications for Assessment" (Bobbie Print and Marcus Erooga). Subject and author indexes are included. Each chapter contains references. (KB)