The manual reviews two nationally publicized court cases which focused public attention on this issue and the Federal Government's efforts to address the problem through the amendments and implementing regulations. Model procedures are divided into seven parts: definitions, planning, intake, preliminary investigation, onsite investigation, decisionmaking, and followup. These procedures focus on qualifications of protective services personnel, use of medical consultation, coordination with hospital personnel, and conduct of the investigations. Investigation issues involving parents and hospital review committees receive special attention. Bracketed language in certain sections takes account of State-by-State variations, such as administration, economic, or geographic idiosyncracies. Appendixes provide information needed to assess the child's status, parental decisionmaking, and hospital review committee actions.