THE GUIDE IS BASED PRIMARILY ON THE EXPERIENCE GAINED IN DEVELOPING A CES SYSTEM IN NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENN. THE PRIMARY EMPHASIS OF THE SYSTEM IS ON CHILDREN WHO, IN THE ABSENCE OF IMMEDIATE CASEWORK INTERVENTION, WILL COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE JUVENILE COURT AS NEGLECTED. THE SYSTEM IS NOT LIMITED IN FOCUS TO ABUSED, NEGLECTED, OR DEPENDENT CHILDREN, BUT HAS ELEMENTS OF BOTH PROTECTION AND PREVENTION. PRESERVATION OF INTACT FAMILIES IS A PRIMARY OBJECTIVE. THE FIRST SECTION OF THE GUIDE DEALS PRIMARILY WITH THE DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF CES SYSTEMS. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON NASHVILLE IS FOLLOWED BY CHAPTERS ON COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, EVALUATION OF EXISTING SERVICES AND NEEDS, PLANNING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH CES COMPONENT WITHIN ESTABLISHED SOCIAL SERVICE STRUCTURES, WORKING WITHIN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, SPECIAL PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN THE NASHVILLE EXPERIENCE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY SUPPORT. THE SECOND SECTION DESCRIBES THE OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF EACH COMPONENT OF THE NASHVILLE SYSTEM, TOUCHING ON PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY, SPECIFIC SERVICES PROVIDED, PROCEDURES, AND RECRUITMENT OF PERSONNEL FOR THE FOLLOWING CES COMPONENTS: EMERGENCY INTAKE, OUTREACH AND FOLLOWUP, EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR FAMILIES, EMERGENCY CARETAKERS, EMERGENCY HOMEMAKERS, EMERGENCY FOSTER FAMILY HOMES, AND EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR ADOLESCENTS. EMERGENCY NEIGHBORHOOD CRISIS SHELTER CENTERS ESTABLISHED IN BUFFALO, N.Y., ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE INFORMATION ON RELEVANT LAWS, COPIES OF FORMS USED IN THE NASHVILLE PROGRAM, AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN CRISIS AND ITS FUNCTION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)