The guide assumes a continuing authoritative role for child protective services (CPS) and an expanded leadership role for CPS in engaging community partners in the design and implementation of community-based child protection approaches. The guide reflects the view that CPS should not abdicate responsibility for child safety but rather should ways of ensuring there are clear pathways of support and assistance for families through a variety of providers and informal helpers in the community. As part of describing key steps in developing an assessment strategy, a framework is suggested that encompasses both traditional and facilitative roles for CPS in assisting others and contributing to the assessment process. The guide suggests that child protection assessment should include more than an assessment of immediate harms and that the assessment process should inform key decisions required after the initial assessment. Guidelines are presented to facilitate child protection reform and the development of enhanced assessment capacity. The guidelines are organized according to two parts: (1) planning for improved assessment in child protection; and (2) assessment tools in child protection services. Appendixes include resources for culturally competent assessment, sample tools and forms, information on types of assessment in community-based child protection, and a case example. 125 references and 35 figures