THE BATTERED CHILD RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN OPERATED AS A COMMUNITY-BASED SOCIAL WORK PROJECT WHICH ACCEPTED REFERRAL FROM HOSPITALS, GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, MATERNAL AND CHILD WELFARE CLINICS, AND OTHER SOCIAL AGENCIES IN THREE INNER LONDON BOROUGHS BETWEEN JANUARY 1970 AND SEPTEMBER 1973. THE DEPARTMENT HAS REPORTED IN DEPTH ON 25 ABUSIVE FAMILIES UNDER TREATMENT OVER A PERIOD RANGING FROM 18 MONTHS TO 4 YEARS. ALL THE CHILDREN ACCEPTED WERE UNDER 4 YEARS OLD; 14 HAD SEVERE INJURIES, 2 MODERATE AND 4 MINOR. THE REMAINING 5 CHILDREN HAD NO CURRENT INJURY BUT WERE CONSIDERED TO BE AT HIGH RISK. TWO CHILDREN DIED AND FOUR SUFFERED PERMANENT PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HANDICAP AS A RESULT OF THEIR REFERRAL INJURIES. THE TREATMENT APPROACH WAS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT MANY BATTERING PARENTS DID NOT EXPERIENCE PROPER MOTHERING WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG, WHICH IMPAIRED THEIR ABILITY TO CARE FOR THEIR OWN CHILDREN. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS MEETING THE PARENTS' DEPENDENCY NEEDS AND FOSTERING THEIR EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH LONG-TERM, INTENSIVE, HOME-BASED CASEWORK, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF PRACTICAL HELP. RELIEF FROM THE CHILDREN WAS REGARDED AS A VITAL PART OF THE TREATMENT; REGULAR DAY CARE OR PERIODS OF RESIDENTIAL CARE WERE PROVIDED. LINKAGES WITH OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS WERE ESTABLISHED, ACTION TEAMS ORGANIZED, AND A 24-HOUR TELEPHONE SERVICE OPENED. OBSERVATIONS DRAWN FROM THE PROJECT ARE DISCUSSED REGARDING SUBSEQUENT INJURIES TO THE BATTERED CHILD AND SIBLINGS, THE EFFECT OF THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION, CHILD-PARENT INTERACTION, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND THE PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE PROJECT ILLUSTRATES THE FACT THAT ALTHOUGH ABUSIVE PARENTS CAN AND DO MAKE CONSIDERABLE PERSONAL GAINS THROUGH INTENSIVE, SUPPORTIVE TREATMENT, THIS DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND RELATIONSHIPS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)