This guide to the Child Development Specialist (CDS) Program of the Oregon public schools is intended for districts considering the establishment of CDS programs of their own. Suggestions for establishing a program are drawn from experiences of primary-grade pilot projects in six Oregon school districts. The essence of the CDS Program is prevention, to identify and meet early developmental needs before the child is burdened by problems. The key to the program is the child development specialist who works as a member of the school district staff. The guide consists of two sections: planning the CDS program, and implementing it. The planning section considers basic issues: identifying the population to be served, developing statements of philosophy and objectives, staffing the program, involving other agencies and organizations, and establishing a budget. The implementing section discusses staff orientation and training, assessment of student strengths and needs, selection and implementation of classroom activities, and involvement of parents and community. Each topic is illustrated by experiences of the pilot projects, details of which are summarized in appended tables. (Author/BF)