IN THE PAST DECADE THE ENACTMENT OF FEDERAL AND STATE LEGISLATION, SUCH AS THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT AND STATUTORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM MALTREATMENT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM. PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO PROMPTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF VALUABLE INFORMATION RESOURCES. STILL, APPROPRIATE DATA HANDLING AND SAFEGUARDING OF INFORMATION TO PROTECT THE VICTIM AND OTHERS FROM UNWARRANTED ABUSE IS A CONTINUING GOAL. QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED REGARDING THE APPROPRIATENESS OF SOME DATA COLLECTIONS, SPECIFICALLY IN INSTANCES WHERE THE REPORTS ARE NOT VALIDATED. THE QUESTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT OF ACCESS TO, AND CHALLENGE OF, THE INFORMATION IS ALSO EVIDENT. PROTECTING THE RIGHT OF PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PART OF A CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT INVESTIGATION REMAINS A CRITICAL PROBLEM. LEGAL SAFEGUARDS OF RECORDS CONFIDENTIALITY, THE RIGHT TO INSPECT AND CHALLENGE RECORD CONTENTS, AND CONTROLS OVER DISSEMINATION AND DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS MUST BE CLEARLY DEFINED. NEW SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY SAFEGUARDS MAY BE REQUIRED TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS THAT MAY REQUIRE FURTHER ATTENTION INCLUDE ASSESSMENT OF FEDERAL INTERVENTION INTO CHILD ABUSE AND RELATED MATTERS, APPROPRIATE CONTROLS ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS, PROVISION FOR STANDARDS ON SEALING AND PURGING RECORDS, AND EVALUATION OF THE TOTAL CHILD ABUSE INTERVENTION PROCESS. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)