UNDER THIS NURSING SCHOOL PROGRAM, CAREFULLY SELECTED STUDENTS ENTER THE FAMILY AS A FAMILY ADVOCATE, NOT MERELY AS A CHILD'S ADVOCATE. THEY TRY TO BREAK INTO THE MAIN CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT ACT AS CATALYSTS TO ABUSE. THE PROGRAM IS AN ELECTIVE FOR MOTIVATED AND MATURE UPPER DIVISION STUDENTS AND IS 10 WEEKS LONG, ALTHOUGH THE COURSE ACTUALLY COVERS 1 YEAR OF VOLUNTEER FIELD WORK WITH SUPERVISION. IT INCLUDES WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE FAMILY, WEEKLY SEMINARS, AND WRITING RECORDS OF CONTACT. THE STUDENTS ARE ASSESSED ON THEIR ABILITY TO COMPREHEND AND APPLY THE NURSING PROCESS. THE STUDENTS ARE SEEN AS THE COMMUNITY ARM OF A CHILD ABUSE TEAM OF PSYCHIATRISTS, PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES, AND SOCIAL WORKERS. THE IDEA IS TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE BY GIVING GOOD FAMILY CARE BY HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY. TWO HALLMARKS OF THE PROGRAM ARE ITS UNIQUE RECRUITING AND SCREENING. NEW STUDENTS ARE RECRUITED BY NURSES ALREADY IN THE PROGRAM AND TRAINED ON-THE-JOB WHILE SHARING A CASE WITH THEIR RECRUITER. THE USE OF A STUDENT WITHIN THE POTENTIALLY ABUSIVE FAMILY SEEMS TO BE LESS THREATENING TO THE FAMILY THAN WOULD THE USE OF AN AUTHORITY FIGURE. THIS THE STUDENTS MAY OBSERVE, TEACH, MAKE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS, AND REFERRALS MORE EFFECTIVELY. (RFC)