THE EVOLUTION OF GOVERNMENTAL AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS TRACED TO SHOW INCREASING ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE PROBLEM SINCE 1962, WHEN KIMPE ET AL PUBLISHED THEIR REPORT ON THE BATTERED CHILD SYNDROME. REASONS ARE GIVEN FOR THE PAUCITY OF ACCURATE STATISTICS ON THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN THE UNITED STATES, HOWEVER, IT IS REPORTED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE THAT BY 1979 CHILD ABUSE WILL HAVE BECOME THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF DEATH IN CHILDHOOD. PARENTAL POTENTIAL TO ABUSE, AN AT-RISK CHILD, AND A PRECIPITATING CRISIS ARE DISCUSSED AS THE PRINCIPAL FACTORS IN THE ETIOLOGY OF CHILD ABUSE. THE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE DISCUSSED WITH THE PHYSICIAN IN MIND. SPECIFIC FACTORS IN THE HISTORY, OBSERVATION, AND PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE CHILD INDICATING ABUSE ARE DESCRIBED, AND ELEMENTS IN THE HISTORY, STRESS FACTORS, AND SPECIAL FACTORS REGARDING THE FAMILY WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO CHILD ABUSE ARE INDICATED. PROCEDURES FOR THE PHYSICIAN TO FOLLOW IN HANDLING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES ARE DISCUSSED, FOLLOWED BY A SURVEY OF THE GENERAL LEGAL STRUCTURE ON CHILD ABUSE IN MOST STATES. STATE LAWS IN OKLAHOMA DIRECTED TOWARD CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE EXPLAINED, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE REPORTING LAW. THE METHOD FOR HANDLING SUSPECTED AND CONFIRMED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES IN OKLAHOMA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA IS DESCRIBED. THE APPROACH IS BASICALLY THAT OF A TREATMENT MODEL WHICH FOCUSES ON THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES IN ORDER OF PRIORITY: PROTECTION OF THE CHILD, REHABILITATION OF THE FAMILY, THE PREVENTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF PARENTAL AND FAMILIAL SKILLS, THE MAINTENANCE OF THE FAMILY UNIT, AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM. PROJECTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROACHES TO THE PROBLEM ARE OFFERED. (RCB)