IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1961, WHEN C. HENRY KEMPE AND HIS ASSOCIATES AT THE DENVER, COLO., MEDICAL CENTER COINED THE TERM 'BATTERED CHILD SYNDROME,' THAT PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL INTEREST IN CHILD ABUSE DEVELOPED. SOON AFTER, STATE AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS BEGAN TO PASS CHILD ABUSE REPORTING LAWS AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO ASSUME CRISIS PROPORTIONS. HOWEVER, AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN (SPCC) WAS WORKING TO PREVENT JUVENILE ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN ALL ITS FORMS VIA COMMUNITY ACTION. BY 1920, THE NEW YORK SPCC WAS PROVIDING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY RECONSTRUCTION SERVICES IN CHILD CRUELTY AND NEGLECT CASES. WHEN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY BECAME INTERESTED IN THE PROBLEM, BROAD-BASED APPROACH WAS ALTERED. TODAY MOST CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION TEAMS ARE HOSPITAL BASED, WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER CALLED IN AFTER PHYSICIANS HAVE MADE THE DIAGNOSIS. THERE IS A TENDENCY TO BLAME ABUSE ON PARENTAL PATHOLOGY, ALTHOUGH PHYSICIANS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AGREE THAT FEWER THAN 10 PERCENT OF ABUSING PARENTS ARE SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL. THE ROOT CAUSES INCLUDE INFANTILE PARENTAL PERSONALITIES, FAMILY STRESS, AND LACK OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT. THE MEDICAL MODEL REINFORCES THE NOTION THAT THE SOLUTION TO CHILD MALTREATMENT LIES IN THE REHABILITATION OF THE PARENT AND IS NOT THE BEST ANSWER. SOCIAL WORKERS ARE URGED TO PUT THEIR TRAINING AND INSIGHT TO WORK AND TO RECAPTURE THE ENTHUSIASM OF EARLY SOCIAL WORKERS IN ATTACKING THIS PROBLEM. THE DISCUSSION CONTAINS NOTES AND REFERENCES. (GLR)