AN EXCERPT FROM AN ISSUE OF THE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTS, THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL CENTER ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT (NCCAN), PROVIDES BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON NCCAN'S ROLE IN DEALING WITH MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN IN INSTITUTIONS AND DISCUSSES RELATED ISSUES CONFRONTING THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL LITIGATION IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE MAIN BODY OF THE FINAL REPORT OF THE 1977 NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE INSTITUTIONAL MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN EXAMINES THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN RESIDENTIAL CAREGIVING INSTITUTIONS (INCLUDING TREATMENT, CORRECTIONAL, CUSTODIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS), IDENTIFIES ISSUES, AND OFFERS RECOMMENDATIONS. THE REPORT INCLUDES A SECTION DEALING SPECIFICALLY WITH JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, IN WHICH SUCH ISSUES AS SECURE VERSUS NONSECURE FACILITIES, INDETERMINATE SENTENCING, MONITORING, AND RESTRAINTS ON JUVENILES BY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ARE DISCUSSED. EXCERPTS ON INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN FROM A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF HUMAN ECOLOGY AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY ARE PRESENTED. EXCERPTS FROM THE DRAFT VERSION OF THE FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS, PUBLISHED BY NCCAN IN MARCH 1978, INCLUDE THE SECTION THAT DEALS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE PREVENTION AND CORRECTION OF INSTITUTIONAL CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. NCCAN'S DRAFT OF A MODEL CHILD PROTECTION ACT IS ALSO PROVIDED. INFORMATION ABOUT RESOURCE MATERIALS INCLUDES A REVIEW OF A MANUAL SUGGESTING GUIDELINES FOR INSPECTING CHILDREN'S INSTITUTIONS, A DESCRIPTION OF TRAINING MATERIALS FOR RESIDENTIAL CHILDCARE WORKERS, AND NCCAN CLEARINGHOUSE ABSTRACTS OF MATERIALS ON CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILDREN. (LKM)