Divided into two phases, the study investigated the attitudes toward child abuse and neglect and child rearing practices held by Mexican American migrant farmworkers. The first phase involved a brief literature review and an assessment of the problem. During this phase also, the study's broad general goals were divided into 6 categories which led to the development of 17 specific goals. From these goals, a set of hypotheses and a listing of descriptive facts to be determined from the data were developed. In the second phase, a questionnaire was developed and a sample of 500 families was drawn from families participating in Head Start programs throughout the state. The questionnaire included six sections: migrant lifestyle, the child's education, the child's socialization, child rearing practices, attitudes toward child abuse and neglect issues, and awareness and usage of social and child protective services. Families who preferred it were interviewed in Spanish. Data indicated that Texas migrants were less tolerant of abusive conduct than the general Texas population; that Mexican American migrants favored a discipline-oriented home, patterned after their own rearing; and that migrants were aware of most social programs; yet were not very inclined to use a number of these services. (NQA)