Effective treatment for battered women and their children in crisis requires an understanding of crisis theory and the techniques of crisis intervention. In recognition of the large amount of time police spend responding to repeat family assault calls and their lack of clinical skills, several police departments have developed crisis intervention teams staffed by professional social workers and trained volunteers. At a growing number of large hospitals in urban areas, crisis intervention is being provided to battered women by emergency room staff. Crisis hotlines provide immediate and important information to a battered woman in need of emergency shelter. Careful recruitment and thorough training of crisis intervention staff is essential to a program's success. Once the woman and her children are placed in a shelter, group counseling can be initiated and a treatment plan developed for them. Effective crisis intervention requires an understanding as well as the community resources to which referrals should be made. 19 references