With the government giving priority to preventing child harm and family breakdown, a number of initiatives have been launched to tackle problems in this area. Part of the NSPCC Protecting Children series and revised in paperback to take account of the new green paper Every Child Matters , Supporting Families investigates whether government initiatives and developments in professional practice have worked. Ruth Gardner examines a large-scale study conducted by the NSPCC and draws out the main messages for practice and future policy. Research findings are presented in terms of children s and families needs and expectations, agency interventions and outcomes, community context, and measures and perceived changes over time. This timely study is also widely applicable to child protection efforts in the U.S. and elsewhere, and offers valuable lessons on what works and what doesn't.