The DCFS ordered local offices to organize multidisciplinary child protection teams consisting of community professionals who work with abusing and neglecting families, to staff the most serious cases, and to advise regarding protection and treatment issues. The DCFS also adopted a policy requiring an administrative review of any case in which a physician diagnoses the existence of child abuse and neglect when the abused or neglected child is not removed from the home. Although child protective legislation was changed, sufficient additional resources were not provided to the DCFS. The DCFS subsequently decided to implement a comprehensive risk assessment system which includes a new intake form, standardized screening guidelines, and a risk assessment tool designed to prioritize and predict child abuse and neglect. Translating this system into agency practice, however, has not been fully realized due to funding deficiencies and lack of commitment by middle managers and line supervisors. Nonetheless, the development and utilization of community child protection teams, alternative response systems for minor cases, experiments in community service planning, and improved basic training for caseworkers have resulted in a better defined State child protective service system. Recommendations to further improve DCFS operations and services are offered.