Abstract: With the continuous advancement in the precision of social work, the targeted assistance according to the category, demands and paths for children in plight is becoming much more necessary. Based on the empirical and categorical analysis of children in plight from District X in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, we explored the causes and diversified demands of this group and divided them into two types:internal physiological causes (disability and illness), external environmental causes (non-integrity of families, insufficient custody and poverty). Furthermore, by evaluating the status quo of the social security (three types including basic living guarantee, education guarantee and medical rehabilitation guarantee), and the welfare demands, we proposed a framework design and support strategy of the social protection mechanism for children in plight, which focuses on the core difficulties of the children and covers four hierarchies including micro, macro, central and external systems of social participation, in order to promote the social security policies for such children and improve the social assistance practices.

Key words: children in plight, social security, insufficient assistance, support strategy, categorization