Agencies at the Federal, State, and local levels recognize the importance of primary prevention, but there are a number obstacles to provision of preventive services. The most important immediate obstacle is the shortage of resources. Others include the value historically placed on individualism and self-sufficiency; definitions of prevention and appropriate service; a narrow focus on preventing further abuse (secondary prevention); diagnostic or eligibility requirements for services; a lack of sufficient evaluative research; a narrow focus, emphasizing children in need of treatment and dysfunctional individuals rather than the family as a whole; and a fragmented constituency. To overcome these barriers, it will be necessary to institutionalize primary prevention in a broad-based national family policy, to coordinate preventive efforts across human service programs; modify legislation to provide more funds for primary prevention, and investigate the effectiveness of alternative preventive services. 22 references.