THE PROBLEMS OF CHILD ABUSE DESERVES THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF ARMY CHAPLAINS. THE NORMAL EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING IN PROBLEMSOLVING POSSESSED BY CHAPLAINS MANDATES THAT THEY MAKE THE MAXIMUM USE OF THE EXISTING ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE WITHIN THE ARMY COMMUNITY TO SENSITIZE THEIR LAITY TO THE PROBLEM, AND TO ENABLE CONCERNED PERSONS TO REMEDY PAST ABUSES. THE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH THAT OUGHT TO BE TAKEN INVOLVES MODIFYING THE SOCIAL ATTITUDES WHICH IMPEDE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN AND CONDONE ABUSE AND NEGLECT, SUCH AS CONDONING PRIVATE VIOLENCE OR THE MYTH THAT PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT PRODUCES GOOD BEHAVIOR. CHAPLAINS SHOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE AWARENESS OF PUBLICLY SANCTIONED VIOLENCE, SUCH AS CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR DAY-CARE PROGRAMS AND OF THE MEANS USED BY SUCH PROGRAMS FOR DISCIPLINE AND EDUCATION. THE COMPLEX PERSONALITY PROBLEMS OF CHILD ABUSERS ARE CONSIDERED. EFFORTS OF THE CHAPLAINCY NEED TO BE COORDINATED WITH THE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE PERSONNEL OF THE COMMUNITY BOTH IN THE TREATMENT OF VICTIMS AND IN THE PREVENTION OF FUTURE ABUSES. MEASURES TAKEN BY THE ARMY TO HELP ABUSED CHILDREN ARE BASED ON ARMY REGULATION AR 608-1, WHICH PRESCRIBES THAT THE LOCAL ARMY CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAM WILL HAVE TWO FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS: THE CHILD PROTECTION AND CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM (CPCMT), AND A CHILD ADVOCACY/HUMAN RESOURCES COUNCIL. THE CHAPLAIN CAN SERVE EFFECTIVELY IN EITHER PROGRAM, THOUGH THE COUNCIL IS MORE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING ABUSE. PREVENTIVE PROGRAMS INCLUDE PREMARITAL COUNSELING AND EXPECTANT PARENT CLASSES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (TWK)