When women experience domestic violence, their children may also be abused, physically or sexually or both, at rates estimated to range from 28 percent to 70 percent of the children involved. Many times, these children become the concern of the child welfare system. Because of the involvement of children, when women who encounter domestic violence seek help from the welfare system, they often find themselves caught between systems and agencies with different priorities, perspectives, and policies. Children are the primary focus of the child welfare system; whereas, the current welfare system focuses on moving mothers into paid employment. To further complicate the plight of mothers and children who are victims of abuse, women are also the central focus of the battered women's movement. As a result, abused women may be subject to conflicting advice and demands from domestic violence services and child welfare and welfare officials. One agency may require that the woman enter employment while another agency insists that she be at home to protect her children from the abusive parent. All systems and service providers that are concerned about healthy family functioning must consult and cooperate in the development of policies that take into account the special conditions that attend the women and children who are attempting to make an emotional and economic transition out of a life plagued with violence. This chapter identifies these special conditions. 5 notes and 16 references