Intended for use by any community member who is concerned about the problems of child abuse and neglect, this manual describes some of the essential activities involved in planning, organizing, and operating a community-wide child protection coordinating committee (CCPCC). The manual includes activities for identifying potential participants, developing a commitment to coordinated action, identifying central issues to be addressed by a coordinating committee, and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of committee members. The manual also identifies procedures which help to avoid problems in the organization process. The first chapter of the manual provides a rationale and specifies ways various professionals, including educators, can be involved. The second and third chapters describe initial steps in getting a CCPCC started and subsequent steps to be taken in establishing the CCPCC in the community. The fourth chapter shows how to conduct initial meetings of the coordinating committee, while the fifth chapter describes external and internal functions of the committee. Appendices provide lists of regional child abuse and neglect resource centers and give standards applicable to community response to child abuse and neglect. (RH)