Hining, Jessica. 1996. CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION: A GUIDE TO PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. Abstract: This thesis attempts to lay the groundwork for the preparation of child abuse prevention programs, particularly those targeted at elementary school children and their parents. The studies that were designed for this purpose, and the instruments used in them, were pilot tested in the San Juan metropolitan area of Puerto Rico. The results from these are reported in this thesis. These studies weigh the potential risks and benefits of child abuse prevention programs for school children. Also considered are the developmental stages of the children to whom such programs will be presented and the preparation needed by parents and teachers to participate in prevention programs. Psychologists and psychiatrists were given questionnaires and a sample of them were interviewed. This was to determine if these experts believed their clients, with knowledge of some of the general information about prevention, could have avoided or escaped an abusive situation. Elementary school teachers were targeted by a second study to assess their knowledge of, and experience with, child abuse prevention in their classrooms and to obtain their recommendations for a child abuse prevention program. Social workers were included in a third study, which was to collect information about child abuse reporting and the circumstances leading to most of the reports of child abuse. Their suggestions for the program were also requested, particularly about how to convince victims to come forward. The general adult population was also surveyed through a set of questionnaires to get their opinions regarding child abuse prevention. This research seeks to help determine the most important factors involved in the child abuse prevention program and show the potential risks and benefits of the program, as well as give an indication of probable effectiveness. The initial testing resulted in revision of all of the survey instruments, the original and revised copies of which are included as appendices. Further testing of these questionnaires is required before any significant conclusions can be drawn. Suggestions for future use of these studies to develop, implement, and evaluate child abuse prevention programs are included in this report, as well as possible roles for applied anthropologists in this endeavor.