This document provides the state of North Carolina with a blueprint for program development, training, and research in the area of child abuse prevention intended to strengthen community programs and families statewide. The problem of child abuse is presented in the first section of the report. The next section identifies barriers which may be significant factors in the implementation of a comprehensive child abuse prevention program. Lack of coordination by service providers, lack of training in the area of child abuse and neglect among professionals who work with children, family life education in the schools, teacher preparation for teaching family life education, availability of affordable day care, inadequate public/private collaboration, public awareness of child abuse, and attitudes toward discipline are considered. The major part of the report concentrates on five priority areas for North Carolina in the prevention of child abuse identified by the State Board of Education. Separate sections are included on each of the five priorities: (1) prevention programs; (2) training and education; (3) interagency cooperation and public-private collaboration; (4) evaluation and research; and (5) public awareness. Recommendations for legislative and administrative action are included and a list of references and resources is provided. (NB)