RECENT CONCERN FOR THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE CHALLENGES THE LONG-STANDING PUBLIC ATTITUDE OF NONINTERFERENCE WITHIN FAMILIES, WHICH HAD BEEN REINFORCED BY THE PUBLIC'S ACCEPTANCE OF PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT AS A NECESSARY ELEMENT OF CHILD RAISING. THE DEGREE AND THE EXTENT OF VIOLENCE WHICH HAS BEEN PERPETRATED ON CHILDREN HAS RESULTED IN OVER TWO THOUSAND FATALITIES EACH YEAR, AND OVER A MILLION CHILDREN SUFFERING PERMANENT INJURY. ADOLESCENTS AS WELL AS VERY YOUNG CHILDREN ARE VICTIMIZED. THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ABUSE PROBLEM WARRANTS ITS BEING REFERRED TO AS AN EPIDEMIC, WITH THIS DESCRIPTION APPLYING ALSO TO THE APPARENT TRANSMITTAL OF THE PROPENSITY TO VIOLENCE FROM PARENTS TO THEIR OFFSPRING. ALTHOUGH MANDATORY REPORTING OF SUSPECTED ABUSE HAS LIKELY MADE THE INCREASE IN ABUSE APPEAR TO BE MORE RAPID THAN IT REALLY IS, THE KNOWN INCREASE IN CHILD DEATHS IS BELIEVED TO INDICATE THE EXISTENCE OF AN ACTUAL INCREASE IN ABUSE. ABUSIVE PARENTS ARE RARELY PSYCHOTIC; RATHER, THEY THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND NEVER ACQUIRED OR EXPERIENCED A DIFFERENT METHOD OF 'PARENTING.' WHILE ABUSE IS FELT BY THE CHILDREN OF ALL CLASSES OF SOCIETY, THE CONDITIONS OF POVERTY PRODUCE STRESSES THAT ADD TO THE DANGER OF MALTREATMENT. WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES OF ABUSE, THE EMPHASIS OF CHILD-PROTECTION PROGRAMS MAY BE PLACED ON PREVENTION, SUCH AS PROGRAMS WHICH ASSIST YOUNG MOTHERS, AND REHABILITATION THROUGH PARENT AIDES. ADDITIONAL PROJECTS INCLUDE THE PROVISION FOR THE TEMPORARY FOSTER CARE OF CHILDREN, WITHOUT THE EXTENDED REMOVAL OF THE CHILDREN WHICH IS BELIEVED TO CAUSE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. FURTHER DISCUSSION CONCERNS THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED INTO THE NATURE OF CHILD ABUSE. (TWK)