ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses what might be labeled policy-relevant questions in order to develop a better understanding of the most effective ways of treating and working with child abuse and neglect. States, which frequently do not have the capacity to carry out demonstration evaluations in the same way as the federal government, have a vested interest in making use of the findings of studies. The Child Abuse Act, originally passed in 1974, came up for renewal in 1978. No child abuse program operates in isolation from the rest of the community. Congressional staff members and agency personnel have tremendous influence over the substance of legislation, either in its creation or implementation. The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, a logical entity to take advantage of the findings from our study and use them as they fund additional demonstration programs or as they fund additional research.
