The large number of street children in Latin America, the lack of a clear definition of the problem, its complex causes, the lack of’a solution’and the uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of different and sometimes contradictory interventions, place these children among the most challenging child welfare problems of our time. The visibility of street children makes the phenomenon one of the more pressing problems in Latin America. The presence of children working (selling food, shining shoes, etc.), living on the streets (sleeping, eating, playing) and apparently growing up outside the social institutions of family and school is cause for concern. Their visibility, combined with the sheer numbers of street children in most Latin American cities, transform concern to a public outcry for action.