DIRECTED AT STUDENTS AND PRACTITIONERS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, LAW, LAW ENFORCEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICE, EDUCATION, CHILD CARE, AND GOVERNMENT, THE TEXT COVERS THE HISTORY OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, STATISTICS ON THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM, TYPES OF CHILD MALTREATMENT, CLINICAL AND X-RAY MANIFESTATIONS OF THE MALTREATMENT SYNDROME, AND METHODS OF DIAGNOSING THE SYNDROME. THE ROLE OF LAW AS A FRAMEWORK FOR CHILD PROTECTION IS CONSIDERED, TOGETHER WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MEDICAL, LEGAL, AND SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONS. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE NEED FOR POSITIVE ACTION IN DEALING WITH ABUSE THROUGHOUT THE SOCIAL INVESTIGATION, DISPOSITION, INTERVENTION, TREATMENT, AND FOLLOWUP PHASES. EXPANDED COVERAGE IS DEVOTED TO THE SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN, ABUSE OF ADOLESCENTS, THE ROLE OF VOLUNTEERS IN TREATMENT AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS, AND THE PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF PHYSICIANS AND HOSPITALS IN DEALING WITH MOTHERS AT HIGH RISK OF ABUSING THEIR CHILDREN. THE PROVISIONS OF A MODEL CHILD PROTECTION ACT ARE PRESENTED AND ANALYZED. ALSO PROVIDED ARE CASE STUDIES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, LISTS OF REFERENCES AND RESOURCES, AND AN INDEX. SEE ALSO NCJ-44880 AND 22040. (LKM)