THE JUDICIARY AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND EXPRESSED SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN DEVELOPING THE FAMILY COURT CONCEPT AS AN APPROACH TO REDUCING JUDICIAL SYSTEM FRAGMENTATION OF FAMILIES AND TO IMPROVE THE COORDINATION OF SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY TO COURT-RELATED FAMILIES. ON MARCH 30, 1977 A PILOT FAMILY COURT PROJECT WAS INITIATED IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY WITH THE VIEW THAT THIS DEMONSTRATION COULD SERVE AS A PROTOTYPE FOR OTHER COURTS IN THE STATE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY ADDITIONAL FAMILY DIVISIONS IN THE FUTURE. IN PLANNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PILOT PROJECT THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT ADMINISTRATOR REQUESTED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE LEAA'S CRIMINAL COURTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT. BASED ON THIS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE EFFORT, THIS REPORT INCLUDES RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE JURISDICTION OF THE FAMILY COURT, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CROSS-INDEXING SYSTEM, JUDICIAL HEARING OFFICER CONTINUITY, THE INTAKE FUNCTION, AND THE INTEGRATION OF SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE THE DUTIES OF THE FAMILY COURT ADMINISTRATOR AND A NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND PLANNING MATTERS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC