THE OVERVIEW TOUCHES ON THE HISTORY OF MALTREATMENT OF CHILDREN, PROBLEMS IN DISTINGUISHING ABUSE FROM DISCIPLINE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ILLINOIS LAW PERTAINING TO ABUSE. NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE STATISTICS ON ABUSE ARE CITED, WITH REFERENCE TO CHANGES IN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON STATISTICS. FACTORS THAT INTERACT IN A PATTERN OF ABUSE -- THE PARENT'S POTENTIAL TO ABUSE, THE CHILD, AND THE CRISIS THAT SETS ABUSIVE ACTION MOTION -- ARE DISCUSSED. A CYCLE IS DESCRIBED IN WHICH AN EMOTIONALLY DEPRIVED PARENT WHO RECEIVES LITTLE OR NO SUPPORT FROM SPOUSE, EXTENDED FAMILY, OR FRIENDS TURNS TO THE CHILD FOR GRATIFICATION, LOVE, AND ATTENTION. WHEN THE CHILD CANNOT OR WILL NOT MEET THE PARENTAL DEMANDS AND NEEDS, THE CHILD IS PUNISHED. THE PATTERN IS REPEATED WHEN THE PUNISHED CHILD LATER BECOMES THE ABUSIVE PARENT. THE APPROACH TAKEN BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS) IN DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE CASES IS DISCUSSED. FACTORS THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED IN THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO PLACE A CHILD OUTSIDE THE HOME ARE NOTED. THE NEED FOR CASEWORKERS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THEIR OWN FEELINGS AND TO CONVEY TO AN ABUSING FAMILY AN ATTITUDE OF CONCERN AND HOPE IS EMPHASIZED. INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO HELPING ABUSIVE FAMILIES (E.G., PARENTS ANONYMOUS GROUPS, CRISIS CENTERS, TEMPORARY CARETAKERS ARE CITED. COMMUNITIES ARE URGED TO BECOME INVOLVED IN PLANNING FOR BETTER USE OF RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH CHILD ABUSE. LISTS OF REFERENCES AND OF MATERIALS (PAMPHLETS, POSTERS, FILMS) ON CHILD ABUSE AVAILABLE FROM THE DCFS ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)