Between 1976 and 1987, reports of suspected child abuse and neglect rose nationally from an estimated 669,000 to 2,163,000, an average increase of more than 10 percent yearly. Although some believe the increasing number of child abuse reports is due to overreaction by professionals charged with reporting child abuse, national data clearly indicate that many serious incidents of child abuse still escape the attention of child protection authorities. In discussing the effects of unsubstantiated child abuse reports, the author indicates that child abuse investigations are not necessarily traumatic to the family and that the child welfare system is more efficient in eliminating problem behavior than the criminal justice system. The child protection system (CPS) needs more trained staff to respond to child abuse reports, conduct investigations, and provide services to families because the increase in serious child abuse cases has not been matched by commensurate increases in CPS staff and funding. 1 figure