Compared to the CPS cases, the CAC cases were more likely to involve investigations by local law enforcement personnel and the provision of medical exams, along with higher abuse substantiation rates, mental health referrals, prosecution referrals, and conviction rates. Although the statistical power and nonexperimental design limited the strength of the study's conclusions, the findings suggest that CACs might be an improvement over the CPS standard investigation procedures for child maltreatment allegations. CACs are designed to use multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) composed of law enforcement officers, investigators, prosecutors, mental health and medical personnel, and other professionals. MDTs centralize and coordinate the investigation of child abuse allegations and concurrent or subsequent social, medical, mental health, and advocacy services. The current study tracked 76 child abuse cases reported to authorities and investigated through either a private, not-for-profit CAC or typical CPS services in a mid-south rural county. Case procedures were compared on the involvement of local law enforcement in the investigation, the provision of medical exams, abuse substantiation rates, mental health referrals, prosecution referrals, and conviction rates. 2 tables and 10 references