APPROACHES TO DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF SEXUAL CHILD ABUSE, ARE DESCRIBED. AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROBLEM NOTES THAT IT IS AN ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION TO CONFRONT WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES, BECAUSE OF THE FEAR, SHAME, AND GUILT ACCOMPANYING IT AND THE STRESSFUL EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT OF EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. FREQUENTLY, THE MATTER IS KEPT SECRET BY ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS, WHICH GENERALLY SERVES TO INCREASE THE ISOLATION AND ALIENATION OF THE VICTIM FROM THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE ANSWERS QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE RESPONSE OF LAW TO SEXUAL ABUSE. WHILE INCEST IS A CRIME THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, THE LAW CANNOT PREVENT SEXUAL ABUSE EFFECTIVELY. SINCE AN OFFENDER WITHIN THE FAMILY HAS AN EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHILD THAT MAY MOTIVATE HIM TO SEEK TREATMENT, FAMILY COURT USUALLY CAN DEAL WITH INCEST. IF AN OUTSIDER HAS ASSAULTED A CHILD, THE CRIMINAL COURT HAS JURISDICTION. THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL'S ROLE IN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE INCLUDES RELATING TO THE VICTIM AND HIS/HER PARENTS; THE PROCEDURE FOR THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE VICTIM IS DESCRIBED. THE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE PHYSICIAN ARE ALSO INDICATED. THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SOCIAL WORKER IN RELATION TO CHILD ABUSE ARE DISCUSSED UNDER THE HEADINGS OF 'IDENTIFICATION OF SEXUAL ABUSE,' 'THE SOCIAL WORKER AS CASE MANAGER,' AND THE 'SOCIAL WORKER AS THERAPIST.' IN CONSIDERING THE ROLE OF THE PSYCHOTHERAPIST IN DEALING WITH SITUATIONS OF SEXUAL CHILD ABUSE, THE TEAM CONCEPT IS EMPHASIZED, AND SIX RULES FOR EVALUATING AND MANAGING INCESTUOUS CHILD ABUSE ARE STATED AND DISCUSSED. GUIDELINES TO THERAPEUTIC TEAMWORK ARE ALSO PROVIDED. BIBLIOGRAPHIES ARE PROVIDED AT THE CONCLUSION OF EACH MAJOR SECTION. SEE NCJ-54469 FOR VOLUME 1. (RCB)