The Federal liaison officer for child abuse and neglect in each State was contacted by phone and asked the survey questions. The survey information covers the number of reports filed for 1986, 1987, and 1988; State procedures for prioritizing cases or reducing the number of reports accepted for investigation; the percentage of reported cases accepted onto child protective service caseloads; case characteristics; fatalities reported for 1986, 1987, and 1988; State procedures for reviewing or prosecuting child abuse fatalities; victim therapeutic services; and funding. Based on reporting data collected from 41 States and the District of Columbia, over 2.2 million reports were filed in 1988, approximately 3 percent more than reported in 1987. The estimated number of reported child abuse fatalities have numbered 1,171 for 1986, 1,163 for 1987, and 1,225 for 1988. Based on the survey results, policy directions are suggested. 4 tables 18 references.