THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S EXISTING REPORTING LAWS AND PROCEDURES ARE FOUND TO BE INADEQUATE, AND A NEW LAW REQUIRING MANDATORY REPORTING OF CHILD NEGLECT OR ABUSE CASES BY ALL PROFESSIONALS IS RECOMMENDED. ESTABLISHMENT OF A 24-HOUR, COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY SERVICE, WHICH WOULD INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF NEGLECT AND ABUSE AND INTERVENE IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT THE CHILD, IS ALSO RECOMMENDED. COMPONENTS OF THE EMERGENCY PROGRAM WOULD INCLUDE INTAKE, CARETAKER AND HOMEMAKER SERVICES, EMERGENCY FOSTER HOMES, FAMILY SHELTERS, AND CASH ASSISTANCE. A PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE EMERGENCY PROGRAM WOULD BE TO WORK WITH PARENTS ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS WHENEVER POSSIBLE AND TO AVOID NEGLECT PETITIONS. THE REPORT ALSO OFFERS SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING POLICY AND PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO NEGLECT PETITIONS; PLACEMENT DECISIONS; REFERRAL OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOR SOCIAL SERVICES; REDUCTION OF THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE; ADOPTION; PROGRAM PLANNING, COORDINATION, AND EVALUATION; AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM. FLOW DIAGRAMS DEPICTING EXISTING AND ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES FOR THE SHORT-TERM HANDLING OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES ARE PRESENTED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE COST-EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATIONS OF ADOPTION, CUSTODY WITH RELATIVES OR FRIENDS, FOSTER HOMES, GROUP HOMES, AND INSTITUTIONS AS ALTERNATIVES FOR THE LONG-TERM HANDLING OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES. (LKM)