So the question is not what would reduce child abuse. The question is whether the nation wants to take on the task.More to the point, would any large-scale government effort to prop up families do any good? Or would it disintegrate into another expensive failure, not unlike the nation's welfare system, which also began with noble intentions?

In Illinois, where the Department of Children and Family Services spends about $1 billion annually, large-scale prevention programs certainly would cost millions-perhaps hundreds of millions. Voices for Illinois Children estimates that there are 10,000 new at-risk families each year in this state that need help.

At least early on, the costs would be on top of what DCFS already spends. It is an essential front-end investment, advocates say, to stem the flood of children into DCFS-and reduce costs in the long run.