THE LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF RAPE MANDATED A PROGRAM FOR BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH, RESEARCH-DEMONSTRATION, AND CREATION OF AN INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF RAPE PREVENTION AND CONTROL. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, THE CENTER IS INVESTIGATING UNDERLYING ATTITUDES IN SOCIETY WHICH MAY GIVE RISE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RELATED VIOLENT ACTS. OTHER PROJECTS ARE TRYING OUT NEW TREATMENT METHODS FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, COUNSELING FOR FAMILIES, AND INTERVENTION WITH OFFENDERS. CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION TECHNIQUES ARE BEING DEVELOPED AND TESTED BY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS. THE CENTER IS ALSO INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING RESOURCE AND TRAINING MATERIALS TO ASSIST LOCAL RAPE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS TO BETTER ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ITS AFTERMATH IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER HAS TAKEN STEPS TO ESTABLISH AN INFORMATION BASE FOR A CLEARINGHOUSE ON SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND TO DISSEMINATE THIS INFORMATION TO PEOPLE WORKING IN THE FIELD. THE RESEARCH PROGRAM OF THE CENTER IS ESSENTIAL TO DEVELOPING KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION ON THE CAUSES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND FOR PROVIDING A BASIS FOR IMPROVED PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS; ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED TO ENHANCE RESEARCHER SKILLS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED). (LWM)