Although the teams of the four States are similar in many respects, they reflect each State's response to reports of child abuse. The personnel of all four teams combine the expertise from three professional disciplines: social services, law enforcement, and legal. The members of all four teams receive continuing training to enable them to share their training and expertise with local social workers, law enforcement personnel, and prosecutors. One section of the manual focuses on the formation of a multidisciplinary team. Topics covered include the background and role of each team, the legal authority and composition of the teams, funding the teams, budgets, personnel, team training, and developing and using forms. A section on team operation addresses operating protocols, marketing of the team, "reality checks," interagency cooperation, training by the team, financial issues, sensitive issues, and legislative initiatives. The manual concludes that a multidisciplinary team from the Attorney General's Office can support and enhance the efforts of local agencies by assisting directly with investigations and prosecutions of child abuse cases, providing advice and consultation to local authorities, providing legislative and policy coordination, and providing training and expertise. Seven appendixes provide supplementary information on legal authority, budgets, marketing materials, and forms from each of the four States.