In order to fully and harmoniously develop their personality, a child needs to grow up in a family environment that will provide them with the necessary protection, help, love and understanding. The state is obliged to provide special protection and assistance to a child wo is deprived of a family enviroment or who, for their own benefit, cannon remain insuch an environment. Out-of-family care is provided to children without adequate care, to children who are victims of domestic violence, to children with behavioural disorders and physical or mental disabilities. For children without adequate parental care, such care may include, among other things, foster care, adoption or placement in appropriate childcare facilities. Despite the negatives effects on child development, the institutionalization of children is the dominant form of child care, both in the Republic of Croatia and throughout Europe. Bearing in mind the principle of the best interests of the child, which has a key role in making all decisions related to c child, the legislator has prescribed various possibilities for the protection ofthe child and their rights. By denying parental care, the state and society are deprived of the exceptional potential of each individual child. In order to prevent the separation of children from their families, and thus to reduce the number of children without adequate parental care, it is extremely important to develop new community-based services for families that will provide them with support and empowerment programs according to their needs.