The reporting and investigating of child abuse in general, and child sexual abuse in particular, involve many difficult issues. Legal reforms and innovative developments in child protection practices and procedures strive to improve effectiveness in these areas. These developments include new laws requiring mandatory reporting and reporter immunity from civil liability, multidisciplinary investigative teams, child advocacy centers, and the use of technology to assist the gathering and documentation of relevant information. Additional needs include better education of professionals and the public, 24-hour hotlines, fax capacity, ample trained intake staff, a uniform national reporting database, the better financial resources to eliminate excessive staff workloads. Controversial areas include the use of videotaping, anatomical dolls, and validation tests. 56 reference notes (Author abstract modified)