THIRTEEN CASES OF CHILD ABUSE DEATHS, IN 1976-1977 ARE STUDIED, AND 11 CASES NOT INVOLVING DEATH, BUT EVIDENCING GOOD CASE MANAGEMENT ARE INCLUDED. IN EXAMINING THE CASE RECORDS, PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS PAID TO WHO REPORTED AND WHO RECEIVED THE INITIAL COMPLAINT (AS MANY OF THE DECEASED CHILDREN WERE KNOWN TO THE OACAS), HOW IT WAS INVESTIGATED, AND WHAT ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE CASE SUMMARIES SHOW THAT INFANTS UNDER AGE 2 HAVE A SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER RISK OF DEATH FROM CHILD ABUSE. SINCE 5 OF THE 13 MOTHERS INVOLVED WERE 19 OR YOUNGER, CASE WORKERS SHOULD PAY ESPECIALLY CLOSE ATTENTION TO COMPLAINTS ABOUT YOUNG, UNSTABLE PARENTS HAVING VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. RISK-TAKING IN THESE CASES SHOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM AND YOUNG MOTHERS TAUGHT BIRTH CONTROL. SINCE IN MANY ABUSE CASES, THE OACAS IS DEALING WITH MULTIPROBLEM FAMILIES, COOPERATION WITH OTHER SOCIAL AGENCIES IS ESSENTIAL. OACAS SHOULD REMEMBER THE THE FIRST DUTY IS CHILD PROTECTION, NOT FAMILY THERAPY, AS MANY CHILDREN DIED AFTER THE OACAS WAS RELUCTANT TO TAKE THEM INTO CUSTODY. MOREOVER, FAILURE OF ABUSIVE PARENTS TO KEEP APPOINTMENTS OR ALLOW OACAS PERSONNEL INTO THEIR HOMES SHOULD BE VIEWED WITH ALARM AND ACTED UPON IMMEDIATELY, SINCE SERIOUSLY ABUSIVE PARENTS OFTEN AVOID THE OACAS. FINALLY, INQUESTS SHOULD BE HELD IN ALL CHILD ABUSE DEATHS, AND THE CENTRAL CHILD ABUSE REGISTRY SHOULD BE NOTIFIED MORE REGULARLY OF CHILD ABUSE INCIDENTS. APPENDIXES CONTAIN CASE SUMMARIES, CASE TRAJECTORIES EXAMPLES, AND A REPORT ON CHILD BATTERY. A TABLE IS INCLUDED. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, SEE NCJ 65120-21. (PAP)