The four research studies are the Passaic County (New Jersey) study of AFDC recipients in a welfare-to-work program (December 1995 and January 1997); "In Harm's Way," a measurement of both current and past prevalence of domestic violence in Massachusetts (1997); the Worcester Family Research Project (Massachusetts) between August 1992 and July 1995; and The Effects of Violence on Women's Employment (Chicago) between September 1994 and May 1995. These four studies present consistent prevalences of domestic violence in welfare samples. Many welfare women, despite domestic violence, do not suffer from physical and mental health problems; the studies show, however, that a significant percentage do. All four studies found high levels of physical and mental health problems among those women who have experienced domestic violence. Although some of these problems could be caused by poverty as well as domestic violence, the fact that violence victims are overrepresented suggests that there are additive effects for violence. Anecdotally, welfare-to-work programs have documented that domestic violence serves as a barrier to work due to the abusive partner's interference with education, training, and work, or the physical or mental trauma that impedes compliance with employment requirements. Although much more needs to be known in this area, the prevalence of domestic violence in welfare women's lives requires specific domestic violence-sensitive welfare policies. 6 tables, 7 notes, and 15 references