CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE DEFINED, AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES ARE ILLUSTRATED BY PICTURES OF ABUSED CHILDREN. THE MAJORITY OF ABUSED CHILDREN ARE UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE AND HAVE BEEN ABUSED BY A RELATIVE. THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE HAS ESTABLISHED A TOLL-FREE HOTLINE TO RECEIVE CALLS FROM ANONYMOUS OR SELF-IDENTIFIED CALLERS REPORTING ABUSE. THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS TO STAFF THE PHONE LINES. TEXAS LAW REQUIRES THAT ALL CASES OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT MUST BE REPORTED AND THAT ALL PEOPLE WHO DO NOT REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE BE PENALIZED. RADIO AND TELEVISION ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS HAVE EMPHASIZED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUALS TO REPORT CASES OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT. AS A RESULT OF THIS AND OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE REPORTING LAWS, THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CASES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT HAVE INCREASED. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE INVESTIGATES ALL REPORTED CASES AND DECIDES WHAT COURSE OF ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN. ALL REPORTS ARE CORRELATED AND ENTERED INTO A COMPUTERIZED DATA BANK, WHERE ALL INFORMATION COLLECTED ON CASES OF ABUSE ARE HELD. THIS FACILITATES THE IDENTIFICATION OF CHRONIC CHILD ABUSERS. (BAC)