THE PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN OPERATES ITS CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAM THROUGH A DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. REGULAR TOP LEVEL MEETINGS ARE HELD WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, BUT THERE IS LIMITED LIAISON AND COOPERATION IN MATTER OF CHILD ABUSE. ONLY RECENTLY HAS ANY COMMITMENT BEEN INITIATED TO A PROVINCE-WIDE PROGRAM THAT WOULD PROVIDE A REGISTER OF ABUSE, EMERGENCY TELEPHONE LINES, AND ADEQUATE PUBLICITY. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS FOCUS ON GENERAL ISSUES SUCH AS FAMILY AND INCOME SUPPORT. THERE IS A MANDATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN BUT IS NOT OFTEN IMPLEMENTED. A MULTIDISCIPLINARY EFFORT HAS EVOLVED OUT OF GROWING CONCERN OVER RECENT INCIDENTS OF CHILD ABUSE. IN RESPONSE TO PUBLISHED REPORTS OF ABUSE, A MIXED GROUP OF CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS -- LAWYERS, MOTHERS, TEACHERS, AS WELL AS SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS -- FORMED THE SASKATOON SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN. A SEPARATE GROUP OF PEDIATRICIANS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND PSYCHIATRISTS FORMED A SECOND MULTIDISCIPLINARY GROUP THAT WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH HOSPITALS ON SERIOUS CASES OF ABUSE. FROM THE OUTSET, LIAISON HAS BEEN EMPHASIZED; BOTH GROUPS HAVE MET MONTHLY AND THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT EFFORTS WERE INADEQUATE. THE AREAS MOST IN NEED OF CHANGE WERE THOUGHT TO BE INFORMATION, PREPAREDNESS, SKILLS AT CASE MANAGING, AND THE ATTITUDES TOWARDS THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE PROBLEM OF ABUSE. THE GROUPS HAVE WORKED TO DEFINE PROBLEMS, OUTLINE SOLUTIONS, AND WORK WITH THE PEOPLE MOST CLOSELY INVOLVED, ASSISTING THEM TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES. SOURCES OF RESOURCE MATERIAL AND AVENUES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING THE USE OF PUBLIC LIBRARY MATERIAL AND THE MEDIA. THE GROUPS ALSO INITIATED AN INFORMAL SURVEY OF THE VARIOUS AGENCIES THAT HAVE OCCASION TO DEAL WITH INCIDENTS OF CHILD ABUSE. IT WAS FOUND THAT FEW POLICE, NURSES, EMERGENCY ROOM OR PHYSICIANS' SECRETARIES HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROCEDURES PRIMARY TO COPING WITH CHILD ABUSE. IN THE TRAINING OF PROFESSIONALS LITTLE ATTENTION WAS BEING PAID TO ISSUES OF CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION. A CHAPTER OF PARENTS ANONYMOUS, A SELF-HELP GROUP FOR ABUSING PARENTS, HAS BEEN FOUNDED IN THE PROVINCE. VARIOUS BRIEFS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES WITH REGARD TO REQUESTS FOR FUNDING AND POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE REFORM. AS A RESULT OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, GREATER AVAILABILITY OF SKILLED WORKERS TO STAFF PHONE LINES AND EASIER PUBLIC ACCESS TO SERVICES HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)