The present study aimed to analyze the limits between care and intra-family violence against children, from the perspective of family members and professionals of a children s shelter located in the West Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro. This is a research with a qualitative approach, with data collection carried out through semi-standardized interviews with family members of foster children and professionals from the institution, in addition to technical reports produced by the institution s staff. For data analysis, the method of interpretation of the meanings attributed was used, since this allows to understand the relationships in a certain socio-historical context. The results showed that, despite the importance attributed to the family by the interviewees, its composition and relationships established between members differ between groups. It was also noted the presence of women as the main responsible for the care and support of family members, and their blame for the violation of children s rights. It was also possible to notice that the fragility of family ties of the public served by the institution marks generations prior to childcare, and that is why it is essential to know the life history of each family in order to understand how its members relate to each other. It was also found that care is delineated through subjective aspects, while violence is defined through its manifestations, and despite being considered antagonistic points in the relationship between adult-caregiver and child-subject of care, the line that separates the classification of a certain action as a form of violence or as a manifestation of care.