Activist efforts over the last 25 years have made a dramatic difference in the range of social, human, and legal services available for battered women: shelters, hotlines, lawsuits, lobbying efforts for legal reforms and legislation, public education campaigns, and medical and social work protocols, among other developments. In the academic world there has been an explosion of scholarship, symposia, and conferences on issues related to violence against women. However, much of the innovative work is not effectively used and developed into policy initiatives because there are few opportunities for activists and academics to meet and work together. There are significant obstacles in the way of this work that seriously limit its effectiveness and outreach, including research limitations and serious funding problems. In addition, government must be engaged more directly in order to make the process of reconceptualization real for battered women.