THIS REPORT CONTAINS A STATE-BY-STATE REVIEW OF VOLUNTARY AND PUBLIC AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES; THE LEGAL BASE OR AUTHORITY FOR THE SERVICE; SPECIFICS RELATING TO OPERATIONAL AND PROGRAM POLICIES; STAFFING PATTERNS; AND A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SIGNIFICANT MATERIAL RELATING TO THE STATUS OF CHILD PROTECTION AS FOUND TO EXIST IN THE 50 STATES AND TERRITORIES. MAJOR SURVEY FINDINGS ARE HIGHLIGHTED. THE PRINCIPAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION REACHED BY THE SURVEY WERE SOME 3000 STATE DEPARTMENTS OF WELFARE (CHILD WELFARE DIVISIONS); COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF WELFARE IN STATES WHERE CHILD WELFARE IS COUNTY ADMINISTERED; AND COMMUNITY CHESTS AND WELFARE COUNCILS IN COMMUNITIES WITH A POPULATION OVER 10,000. THE LIMITED ANALYSIS OF CHILD ABUSE REPORTING LAWS IS SUPPLEMENTED BY ANOTHER STUDY REPORT, 'CHILD ABUSE LEGISLATION - ANALYSIS OF REPORTING LAWS IN THE UNITED STATES'. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS COPIES OF THE QUESTIONNAIRES AND COVER LETTER USED IN THE STUDY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)