IT IS POINTED OUT THAT SOCIAL ISOLATION, MARITAL STRESS, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND OTHER STRAINS ASSOCIATED WITH LIVING IN OUR COMPLEX SOCIETY ARE MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY FOUND IN ABUSIVE FAMILIES THAN MENTAL ABERRATIONS. THEREFORE, ONE CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, IT IS SUGGESTED, COULD EVOLVE FROM AN APPRECIATION OF THESE FACTORS. IN CONSIDERING THIS APPROACH, CHILD ABUSE CAN BE CONCEPTUALIZED AS HAVING THREE BASIC COMPONENTS: 1) A POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE; 2) A VERY SPECIAL KIND OF CHILD; AND 3) A CRISIS OR SERIES OF CRISES. THE FIRST STEP IN HELPING AN ABUSING FAMILY THEN WOULD BE TO ASSESS ITS WEAKNESSES AND STRENGTHS, HELPING THE PARENT REALIZE THAT THE GOAL IS TO HELP RATHER THAN CONDEMN. PROGRAMS TO HELP FAMILIES IN STRESS SHOULD EMPHASIZE THE TIMELINESS OF HELP, THE NEED TO SUPPORT THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY IN THE CHILD'S LIFE, AND THE NEED FOR ALTERNATE WAYS TO MEET THE VARYING NEEDS OF FAMILIES IN STRESS. THE FIRST NEED IN PROVIDING BETTER CARE OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IS AN ORGANIZATION OF COMMUNITY GROUPS IN EACH COUNTY TO COORDINATE SERVICES. OTHER MAJOR AREAS OF NEED INCLUDE COMMUNITY EDUCATION, THE DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEMS, AND THE PROVISION OF RESPITE CARE FOR STRESSED FAMILIES....ELW