An overview of child abuse emphasizes that investigators must differentiate between practices of child rearing which are truly harmful to children and those which only reflect differences in lifestyles. It explains clinical signs of physical abuse, behavior that indicates emotional abuse, signs of physical neglect, and child sexual abuse and exploitation. A profile of a typical child abuser is presented, with the comment that such individuals are usually recidivists and likely to escalate the abuse. Sections of the California Penal Code which pertain to crimes against children are summarized, including reporting laws and procedures that agencies must follow after receiving a report. The manual describes in detail the professional responsibilities of law enforcement agencies, the legal community, probation services, medical community, social welfare workers, and schools in reporting, handling, and preventing cases of child abuse and neglect. The discussion of treatment focuses on programs for the family that use interdisciplinary techniques, parent self-help groups, crisis hotlines, and parent support services. Finally, the handbook comments that community members must report cases of child abuse, even if not legally required to do so, and involve themselves in prevention and treatment efforts. The appendixes contain forms for reporting suspected child abuse, relevant sections of California's laws, and the rules of search and seizure as they apply to investigations of child abuse.