THE 911 NUMBER, IN USE SINCE 1968, WAS IMPLEMENTED TO PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH A CENTRAL TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR FIRE, POLICE, OR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, THUS REDUCING CRIME AND OTHER PROBLEMS THROUGH FASTER SERVICE. ALTHOUGH DHEW HAS MANDATED ITS IMPLEMENTATION, IT IS NOT KNOWN IF USE OF 911 IMPROVES LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS OR FACILITATES EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE. ALTHOUGH 911 IS PRESENTLY USED IN OVER 300 COMMUNITIES, ITS USE IS LOCAL AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION OFTEN DISPUTED. DHEW MUST TAKE STEPS TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF 911 AND HELP COMMUNITIES PLAN ITS IMPLEMENTATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE TROUBLESOME AREA OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE. DHEW SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHETHER AND HOW 911 IMPROVES PUBLIC ACCESS TO SERVICES; KNOW WHAT IS REQUIRED OF SUCCESSFUL, LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION; DEVELOP IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES; AND UNDERSTAND THE UNANTICIPATED CONSEQUENCES OF 911. TO DEVELOP AN ADEQUATE POLICE, DHEW SHOULD STUDY COMMUNITIES ALREADY USING 911, DEVELOP TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR COMMUNITIES PROPOSING TO USE IT, AND DEVELOP GENERAL MODELS FOR IMPLEMENTING NEW SOCIAL SERVICES (AS THE PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTING NEW SOCIAL SERVICES ARE SIMILAR TO 911 IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEMS. A THREE-STEP RESEARCH APPROACH IS RECOMMENDED AND DISCUSSED. (PAP)