LOUISIANA IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE COUNTRY WITH A LEGISLATIVE MANDATE TO ESTABLISH CHILD PROTECTION CENTERS. STATEWIDE SERVICES PROVIDED TO ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN INCLUDE 24-HOUR AVAILABILITY, UNIVERSITY-SUPERVISED MEDICAL CARE, AND USE OF THE INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM CONCEPT. PROTECTIVE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED TO CHILDREN THROUGH 2 UNIQUE SYSTEMS, 6 CHILD PROTECTION CENTERS AND 64 SPECIAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE UNITS. CENTERS ARE LOCATED AT STATE-SUPPORTED UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS WHERE PRIVATE OR INDIGENT PATIENTS REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION ARE ADMITTED. THEY ARE STAFFED WITH SOCIAL WORKERS, PEDIATRICIANS, HOMEMAKERS (PARENT AIDES), LAWYERS, PSYCHIATRISTS, AND PSYCHOLOGISTS. INTERDISCIPLINARY DISPOSITIONAL CONFERENCES ARE HELD PRIOR TO DISCHARGE FROM THE HOSPITAL OR COURT HEARINGS. DURING CONFERENCES, SITUATIONS ARE EXPLORED COMPREHENSIVELY TO DETERMINE IF ABUSE EXISTS AND TO DEVELOP A PLAN OF MANAGEMENT FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. SEVEN FORMS OF EMERGENCY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY CENTERS AND PROTECTIVE SERVICE UNITS: (1) 24-HOUR REFERRAL OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES; (2) CRISIS COUNSELING; (3) EARLY PROTECTION OF ABUSED CHILDREN; (4) CONSULTATIVE SERVICES TO OTHER COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS IN CHILD ABUSE CASE MANAGEMENT; (5) FULFILLING MANDATED REPORTING PROCEDURES TO COURTS; (6) LONG-TERM FOLLOWUP AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES; AND (7) TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS. SOCIAL WORKERS EMPLOY INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND/OR COUPLES COUNSELING IN THE PROVISION OF REHABILITATIVE SERVICES TO PARENTS. CASES ARE ALSO REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND FAMILY COUNSELING CLINICS. HOMEMAKERS ASSIST IN PROVIDING IN-HOME PARENTING. THE ORGANIZATION OF CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAMS IN LOUISIANA IS DETAILED, WITH ATTENTION GIVEN TO MEDICAL AND PROTECTIVE SERVICE COMPONENTS. AN INDEPTH DESCRIPTION OF ONE COMMUNITY CHILD PROTECTION CENTER IS PRESENTED. (DEP)