THE HANDBOOK'S CENTRAL PREMISE IS THAT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS BOTH A FAMILY AND A COMMUNITY PROBLEM. IT IS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT: (1) THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE CAN BE REDUCED; (2) MOST AGENCIES AND PROFESSIONALS ARE COMMITTED TO REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE; (3) AGENCIES AND PROFESSIONALS NEED TO COLLABORATE IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE TO CHILD ABUSE; AND (4) THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY, INTERAGENCY APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM WILL, IN THE LONG RUN, BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT APPROACH. AN OVERVIEW IS GIVEN OF THE GOALS OF A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY PROGRAM, I.E., TO PROVIDE: COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES WHICH ACT TO SUPPORT FAMILY LIFE; EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF 'HIGH RISK' FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY SUPPORTING THOSE UNDER STRESS; AND CRISIS INTERVENTION, EMERGENCY, THERAPEUTIC AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES IN WHICH ABUSE HAS OCCURRED. THE ACTUAL STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF A COMMUNITY-BASED TEAM TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES IS OUTLINED. GUIDELINES ARE PROVIDED FOR A COMMUNITY SEEKING TO IMPLEMENT SUCH A PROGRAM, AND AN ASSESSMENT GUIDE IS PROVIDED TO AID IN EVALUATING A COMMUNITY'S EXISTING CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES. POTENTIAL BARRIERS TO COOPERATION ARE IDENTIFIED, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR OVERCOMING THEM ARE PRESENTED. PROVISIONS OF THE MINNESOTA DATA PRIVACY ACT AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR A COMMUNITY PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED. THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SEVERAL AGENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM -- WELFARE, HEALTH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, COURTS, MENTAL HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND CHILD CARE -- ARE OUTLINED. APPENDIXES PROVIDE: A GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN CHILD PROTECTION; BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF EXISTING COMMUNITY-BASED TEAMS IN MINNESOTA; A SUMMARY OF MINNESOTA STATUTES RELATING TO CHILD MALTREATMENT, CURRENT AS OF 1977; AND A LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS AND FILMS WHICH CAN BE USED AS SOURCES OF INFORMATION.