This document presents the 1996 Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) standards based on current knowledge, children's developmental needs, and tested ways of meeting these needs most effectively. The standards are intended to provide goals for improving services to children and families and are used in the development of the standards of the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children, Inc. (COA). Following a section describing how to use the CWLA standards, the guide differentiates the CWLA standards, COA standards for accreditation, and state and provincial licensing. The introduction presents a historical perspective on child welfare services. The chapters are: (1) "Core Values"; (2) "Organizational Establishment, Governance, and Administration"; (3)"Human Resources"; and (4) "Business Management, Marketing, and Resource Development." Appended is the National Society of Fund Raising Executives Code of Ethical Principles and Standards of Professional Practice. (Contains 50 references.) (KB)