Intended for use in inservice teacher and professional education, as well as with secondary level students, the curriculum guide is designed as part of Project Protection to promote understanding of the individual and societal problems of child maltreatment in terms of prevention. The document contains six units which deal with the following aspects of child abuse and neglect: reasons for past and present maltreatment in the society; acts of physical and psychological neglect and abuse, physical and psychological manifestations of maltreatment, and child maltreatment as compared to acceptable child-rearing practices; the typically abusive or neglectful caretaker, characteristics of the vulnerable child, and ability to cope with stress as the key factor in the episode of child maltreatment; the psychodynamic dimension of child maltreatment in relation to both the child's and caretaker's conscious and unconscious reactions to stress; dysfunctions within society, the family, and the individual which could result in circumstantial, incidental, or intentional child maltreatment; and the variety of help available to both the caretaker and the maltreated child. It is noted that units may be taught separately in 5 to 10 days according to the needs and interests of students, or that all six units may be taught sequentially as a complete course of study. Each unit includes appropriate literature and supplementary instructional materials. The Montgomery County (Maryland) school system's current policy statement and reporting procedures for child abuse and neglect are also provided, as well as an annotated bibliography of selected literature for use at the professional level. (Author/SBH)