Due to low grant levels, welfare participants cannot live on welfare alone. Accordingly, high school drop-outs who become teen parents, with the attendant low skill levels and negligible work history, become involved in relationships with males who promise to support them. In return, these males want complete dependency and control. Threatened by educational programs, these men often resort to violence and emotional coercion to prevent their partners from gaining education and employment. A mounting body of evidence supports the connection between domestic violence and welfare dependency. Until now, the issue of domestic violence has not been linked to welfare reform and other anti-poverty initiatives. All aspects of the social service delivery system, including job training programs, need to be aware of the dynamics of domestic violence and the needs of battered women. Also, additional research is needed on the extent and nature of the problem within welfare caseloads. Work is important for abused women, because it helps end their isolation and dependence on men in poor communities. It is essential for women to participate in the broader society, and welfare assistance has played its part in trapping them in coercive, isolating, and violent relationships with the men who provide them and their children the necessary financial support. Welfare reform should focus on enabling poor young girls and women to reach their full potential, living free of male control, coercion, and violence. 9 notes