THE ROLE OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICE WORKERS IS TO DIAGNOSE AND BECOME INSTRUMENTAL IN REMEDYING THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL CONDITIONS CONTRIBUTING TO ABUSE. THE INITIAL STEP OF DIAGNOSIS IS TO ASSESS THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE REFERRAL SOURCE, WHETHER FROM MEDICAL PERSONNEL WHO HAVE TREATED ABUSE INJURIES OR FROM LAY PERSONS WHO HAVE OBSERVED NEGLECTFUL OR ABUSIVE PARENTAL BEHAVIOR. ON THE BASIS OF THIS INFORMATION, THE SOCIAL WORKER'S ROLE IS TO APPROACH THE PARENTS WITH A NONPUNITIVE, NONACCUSATORY POSTURE. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER NOT ASSUMING OR EVEN APPEARING TO ASSUME AN INVESTIGATORY ROLE IS EMPHASIZED. IT IS INDICATED THAT IN FULFILLING AN ACCEPTING, CARING, AND SERVING ROLE, THE SOCIAL WORKER WILL CREATE AN EMOTIONAL ATMOSPHERE WITHIN WHICH THE PARENTS WILL MOST OFTEN ACKNOWLEDGE ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR AND WORK WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER TO RELIEVE THE SITUATION. WHILE IT IS PREFERABLE THAT THE ABUSED CHILD REMAIN IN THE HOME SO THAT THE PARENTS' SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CHILD REMAINS ACTIVE, SHOULD REMOVAL OF THE CHILD BECOME NECESSARY, IT IS THE JOB OF THE SOCIAL WORKER TO INFORM THE PARENTS OF ANY LEGAL PROCEDURES INVOLVED AND KEEP THE CHANNELS OF TREATMENT COMMUNICATION OPEN IN THE FACE OF WHAT MAY BE AN UNWELCOME INTERVENTION. IT IS INDICATED THAT THE THREE CASE ILLUSTRATIONS PROVIDED CONTAIN SEVERAL FACTORS CHARACTERISTIC OF A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF CHILD ABUSE CASES. (RCB)