PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN THE FIELD OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES CONVINCED A FORMER CASE WORKER THAT THREE CRUCIAL AREAS NEED FURTHER ATTENTION. THE FIRST INVOLVES THE FUNDING OF PROTECTIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS, AND THE NEED FOR TAX SUPPORT IS STRONGLY EMPHASIZED. FACED WITH LIMITED FUNDS AND PERSONNEL, MANY EXISTING STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS CAN PROVIDE ONLY MINIMAL SERVICES. THE AUTHOR CONCEDES THAT THE COMPETITION FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT, BASED ON NEED AND PRIORITY, WILL BE KEEN. DISCUSSING THE SECOND AREA, THE AUTHOR EMPHASIZES THE NEED TO DEFINE THE PROTECTIVE SERVICE COMPONENTS IN CLEAR ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL TERMS. PROTECTIVE SERVICE ADVOCATES SHOULD ENUNCIATE A SUCCINCT MINIMAL PACKAGE FOR DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM, WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ENTIRE SOCIAL SERVICE FIELD. THE THIRD ITEM OF DISCUSSION DEALS WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, SINCE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM. VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WOULD ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN THE SERVICES OF PUBLIC AGENCIES. SIX MAJOR ANCHOR POINTS REFLECTING A BROAD MIXTURE OF PUBLIC AND VOLUNTARY LEADERSHIP AND EXPENDITURES ARE ENUMERATED TO SHAPE A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. EACH COMMUNITY WOULD PROVIDE A PLAN DEFINING THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PUBLIC AGENCIES, ALONG WITH COMPARABLE DEFINITIONS FOR OTHER PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CENTERS, AND FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES. THE COUNCIL ON CHILDREN AT RISK DEVELOPED IN CLEVELAND, OHIO, CONSISTS OF PROFESSIONALS AND LAY PERSONS WHO STRIVE TO ASSIST WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMMUNITY PLAN, NEGOTIATING PUBLIC AND VOLUNTARY SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES. THUS, THE COUNCIL HOPES TO HELP AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS PROVIDE PROMPT AND PRIORITY SERVICE 'WITHOUT REGARD TO STATUTORY AND THEORETICAL RESPONSIBILITY.'