THE PURPOSE OF THE CHILD WELFARE RESOURCE INFORMATION EXCHANGE IS TO IDENTIFY SUCCESSFUL CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES AND TO STIMULATE, OR TO ASSIST IN, THE TRANSFER OF SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES TO OTHER SETTINGS. THIS GUIDE ENSURES THAT HIGH QUALITY CHILD WELFARE PROGRAMS WILL PROVIDE THE COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENTATION NECESSARY FOR INCLUSION IN THE INFORMATION EXCHANGE. IT ASSISTS CHILD WELFARE PROGRAM MANAGERS IN THE DOCUMENTATION OF THEIR PROGRAM EFFORTS BY FURNISHING BOTH A RECOMMENDED PROCESS AND FORMAT. SECTION I OF THE GUIDE DESCRIBES THE DOCUMENTATION PROCESS IN TERMS OF THREE ESSENTIAL TASKS: INFORMATION COLLECTIONS, ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS OF INFORMATION, AND REPORT WRITING. MOST OF THE SUGGESTED REPORT FORMAT IS ORGANIZED INTO SECTIONS. THE PROGRAM COMPONENTS SECTION CONSISTS OF MATERIAL ON PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, AND PROGRAM OPERATIONS. THE PROGRAM ENVIRONMENT COMPONENT DESCRIBES THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND PHILOSOPHIC SETTING WITHIN WHICH THE PROGRAM FUNCTIONS. THE PROGRAM'S GOVERNANCE MECHANISM, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, FUNDING, AND THE MANAGEMENT TOOLS USED TO CONTROL PROGRAM OPERATIONS ARE DETAILED IN A SEPARATE SEGMENT. THE PROGRAM OPERATIONS COMPONENT, THE HEART OF THE DOCUMENTATION EFFORT, DESCRIBES BOTH THE PROCESS FOR SERVICE DELIVERY AND THE SERVICES THEMSELVES. AN EXAMPLE IS PROVIDED OF A CASEFLOW CHART THAT CAN BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT THE NARRATIVE OF EACH STEP IN THE PROCESS. A PROGRAM EVALUATION SECTION CAN INCLUDE FORMAL EVALUATION DATA, CASE DISPOSITION DATA, AND TESTIMONY FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS. A LENGTHY APPENDIX CONTAINS A COMPLETE EXAMPLE OF A DOCUMENTED CHILD WELFARE SERVICES PROGRAM. FIGURES ARE PROVIDED.