his chapter introduces the system of child protection in Portugal, in the area of Social Work intervention with children at risk. It examines the development of the set of services to protect children in Portugal since the beginning of the century. The political and social measures for child sup¬port, theoretical, methodological and ethical procedures that underpin the professional practice of social workers are addressed. It identi? es profes¬sional intervention as a re?ective process, in conjunction with the testimo¬nies of individuals as mediated by social services. The chapter discusses the facilitation of the construction of knowledge in social work and also concep¬tual models of well-being directed to the child and family. We conclude that the relationship between social work and models of well-being for children has potential in research and debate in the public space to improve child protection and family in contemporary society.

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child protection, legal system, social work, Portugal