THIS HANDBOOK IS ORGANIZED INTO SEVEN COMPONENTS: COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN; COORDINATION OF EXISTING RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT OF A TEAM APPROACH FOR ASSISTING TROUBLED FAMILIES AND CHILDREN; DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFECTIVE LINK BETWEEN THE SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO CARE FOR CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS; ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES THROUGH FRIENDSHIP AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT; ORGANIZATION OF SELF-HELP GROUPS, SUCH AS PARENTS ANONYMOUS PROGRAMS AND AGENCY-CONNECTED PARENT-CHILD ASSOCIATIONS; EDUCATION OF CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND PARENTS IN THE ROLES AND VALUES OF CHILDREARING; AND EXTENSION OF RESOURCES TO THE CARING COMMUNITY. GUIDELINES FOR FORMING A CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT TASK FORCE COVER IDENTIFICATION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES TO BE REPRESENTED, OBTAINING A COMMITMENT, PREFERABLY WRITTEN, FROM THE HEADS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES; DETERMINATION OF OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES, ETC., AS WELL AS SOME PITFALLS, SUCH AS NEGLECTING TO INVOLVE ADVISE KEY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE TASK FORCE, AND BECOMING PREOCCUPIED WITH ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE. IN ADDITION, NEW YORK'S CHILD PROTECTION SERVICE ACT, THE FIRST LEGISLATION IN THE NATION TO REQUIRE AN ANNUAL PLAN FOR PROVIDING CHILD PROTECTICE SERVICES, IS DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF ITS SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION TO OTHER NEW YORK COUNTIES. ALSO HELPFUL IN MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN SERIOUS CASES AND IN COORDINATING SERVICE PLANS IS THE INTERDISCIPLINARY CONSULTANT TEAM, COMPOSED OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS. THE ONEIDA COUNTY (N.Y.) CHILD ABUSE INTERDISCIPLINARY TREATMENT TEAM AND THE ONONDAGA COUNTY (N.Y.) CHILD ABUSE COORDINATING PROGRAM ARE DESCRIBED TO ILLUSTRATE SUCCESSFUL CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE QUEENS (N.Y.) PARENT-CHILD ASSOCIATION. A LIST OF RELATED PUBLICATIONS, SOME FOOTNOTES, AND A LIST OF CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS (THE MAJORITY IN THE NEW YORK AREA) ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)