Following a statement of the philosophy, mission, and history of the Family Violence Network, a brief history of wife abuse and its dynamics is provided. A discussion of the need for and the role of an advocate for battered wives is followed by listings of the responsibilities and qualifications for specific volunteer positions in the Family Violence Network. The remainder of the manual provides information on wife abuse and child abuse and crisis intervention to address such abuse. Information on battered women encompasses the definition of such abuse, myths surrounding it, statistics, characteristics of battered women, and reasons why women stay in an abusive relationship. Wife batterers are also profiled. The information on child abuse encompasses the reporting process, children's reactions to stress or crisis, and how to work with children. A review of various techniques of crisis intervention is followed by a discussion of legal advocacy, racial discrimination in the provision of services for battered wives, and pornography as a factor in abusers' violent behavior toward women.