Responses were received from 301 child protection workers employed in 33 States. Respondents were generally discouraged about their working conditions, huge caseloads, and unrealistic performance expectations. Job dissatisfaction was especially prevalent among workers who had been in the field for longer periods. Many workers had become resigned to their inability to help clients and tended to avoid client contact. Workers reported they did very little professional reading due to demanding service requirements and the inaccessibility of journals and other significant literature pertinent to child abuse and neglect. The availability of specialized consultation related to the performance of their child protective duties was often inadequate to meet their needs. Participation in formal training prior to first case involvement fostered professional reading and worker confidence in the quality of service provided. Worker job satisfaction and self-perceived professional skills were enhanced by membership in professional associations or societies and membership in or use of multidisciplinary teams. These results suggest the need to further develop national and regional resource centers to support the practice of child protective service workers. 3 tables, 11 references. (Author abstract modified)