The manual first profiles the unique characteristics of military life for families and identifies risk factors for child abuse in military families. These include the youthfulness of parents, the isolation of families, and the mobility of military families. Most of the manual addresses the characteristics of the family advocacy program of each military service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard). These family advocacy programs focus on the prevention, identification, and treatment of spouse abuse as well as child abuse and neglect. A central theme of the manual is the importance of civilian and military agencies working together in each community to prevent, identify, and treat child abuse in the military community. The manual also provides an overview of the legal and jurisdictional aspects of child maltreatment in the Armed Forces and presents examples of memoranda of understanding that enhance community cooperation. 9 notes, a 53-item selected bibliography, and appended supplementary material