Addressing the widespread and painful problem of chronic peer rejection, this volume combines up-to-date research and practical strategies for school- and clinic-based intervention. An innovative developmental framework is presented for understanding why certain children face rejection, the peer group dynamics involved, and implications for social-emotional development and mental health. Strategies for assessing rejected children are discussed in detail, with attention to individual social competence variables as well as transactional influences. Clear guidelines are delineated for planning and implementing effective social competence coaching programs, as well as multicomponent interventions and school-based strategies. Providing invaluable recommendations for practice that are solidly grounded in the empirical literature, the book is illustrated throughout with revealing case studies and interviews.