Using statistical data and case material from one State (Utah), reported by the official in charge of the State agency conducting child protective services investigations, the author addresses two key questions: What happens to mothers in situations in which determinations of child abuse or neglect are made when the mothers are not their children's abusers? Further, how often and under what circumstances do these mothers turn to public assistance because of the loss of support of the abusers who have been required to leave the homes? In seeking answers to these questions, the chapter also considers how poor mothers can be victimized by the very system that is charged with protecting their children. From the Utah records, it is apparent that many women who are not abusive to their children are forced to turn to public assistance when child protective services has determined that their children have been abused or neglected by the father. Further research is needed to determine whether the Utah figure of over 20 percent of such women turning to public assistance is representative. With new laws that shorten the time period within which the mother of abused children must fulfill the court's service plan and the new restrictions on public assistance, the mother is caught between two conflicting policies. She may need public assistance so that she is not dependent financially on her children's abuser. She may also need public assistance so that she can be at home to provide proper supervision and fulfill her expected role as their protector. A case study presented in this chapter shows that the Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRA), which intends to move people from public assistance to work and financial independence in an expedited manner, may present a conflict and hardship for mothers of abused children, since they find it difficult to be protectors of their abused children while they are out of the home pursuing the work requirements of the PRA. 10 notes and 4 references