The paper presents some aspects of poverty and exclusion in the Polish society. The authors are interested in those manifestations of poverty which pose a current or potential challenge for social work. Cultural imperatives and authorities' interests have for a longer time been focused around the issue of material and social situation of children and single mothers. It is observed a departure from the patriarchal model of marriage and family, emancipation (social, cultural, political, economic) of women and even their advantage in education (better results, numerical superiority at the third level of education) or employment (feminization of services). The disappearance of the tutelary function exercised by women (mothers, grandmothers, aunts) in traditional families and the dysfunctions that follow (social orphanage, socialization shortages, physical and emotional neglect, behavioural disorders, alcohol and drug dependency, violence in peer groups etc.) cause an increased interest of state, self-government and non-governmental agencies in the situation of children and adolescents.