The dimensions of the social problem of street children in developing countries is being recognized and the need for social action is being addressed. The tone of recent policy papers, however, is one of sympathy rather than of empathy. This sympathetic stance is prone to distortion and misrepresentation and may result in social action which is short-sighted and counterproductive. The failure to achieve empathic understanding of street children has resulted in a focus on weakness and pathology, ignoring the signs of strength and resiliency these children also possess. The sympathetic posture of recent policy papers has falsely assumed a great deal of knowledge about street children. Misconceptions exist in the definitions of street children, in the language and perspective applied to street children, and in the etiology of the condition of street children. Overcoming the lack of knowledge about the problem of street children is fundamental to informed social policy. Advocacy and applied research both play important roles in social policy formation, but reasonable distinctions between the two must be maintained. Policymakers must rely on researchers, clinicians, and advocates alike to inform policy formulation, while recognizing that the approach of each requires careful scrutiny. (NB)