THESE STEPS WERE DEVELOPED THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ANN ARBOR-WASHTENAW COUNTY, MICHIGAN CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN (NOW). THE FIRST STEP IN DEVELOPING A WIFE ASSAULT TASK FORCE CAN BE A MEETING OF THE LOCAL NOW CHAPTER CALLED TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM OF BATTERED WIVES. AN ALTERNATIVE STRATEGY IS TO CONTACT REPRESENTATIVES OF POLICE AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, WOMEN'S CENTERS, AND THE PSYCHIATRIC PROFESSION TO PARTICIPATE IN PANEL DISCUSSIONS OF WIFE ABUSE. FROM THE INTEREST GENERATED BY SUCH ACTIVITIES A TASK FORCE CAN BE ORGANIZED. USING VOLUNTEER HOMES, A SYSTEM OF EMERGENCY HOUSING CAN BE INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE SHELTER CARE FOR ABUSED WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. A TELEPHONE SURVEY OF THE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES OPERATING IN THE COMMUNITY IS SUGGESTED TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO BATTERED WOMEN. THE INCIDENCE OF WIFE ASSAULT IN THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED BECAUSE THESE DATA ARE NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY. COUNSELING AND FOLLOWUP SERVICES UTILIZING LAY VOLUNTEERS SHOULD BE ORGANIZED AND SHOULD INVOLVE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH AGENCY. TO SECURE FUNDING FOR A LONG-TERM AND MORE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM, GRANTS SHOULD BE SOLICITED FROM LOCAL FOUNDATIONS AND STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. FINALLY, COURT AND POLICE WATCHING IS ENCOURAGED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. VARIOUS MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED IN THE EXTENSIVE APPENDIXES, AMONG THEM, LEGAL DEFINITIONS OF ASSAULT, INFORMATION ON HOW TO ORGANIZE VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR BATTERED WOMEN AND HOW TO SURVEY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, A WIFE ASSAULT MAILING LIST, AN OVERVIEW OF WASHTENAW POLICE DATA ON 1974 CASES OF WIFE ASSAULT, COURT WATCHING PROCEDURES, AND ASSORTED NEWSPAPER ARTICLES ON WIFE BEATING, CRISIS SHELTERS, LEGAL ISSUES, AND NOW'S EFFORTS RELATING TO WIFE ABUSE. (KBL)