AVAILABLE STATISTICS ON THE PREVALANCE OF WIFE ABUSE TEND TO BE INACCURATE BECAUSE ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF THE INCIDENTS RESULT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OR HUMAN SERVICE INTERVENTION. A 1976 ESSEX COUNTY, N.J., STUDY REVEALED THAT 63.6 PERCENT OF WOMEN WHO HAD EXPERIENCED VIOLENT INCIDENTS NEVER FILED A CRIMINAL CHARGE AND THAT 57.6 PERCENT NEVER CALLED THE POLICE. OFFICIAL DATA DOES INDICATE, HOWEVER, THAT A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF ALL REPORTED CRIMES OCCUR WITHIN FAMILIES. PREVAILING CAUSAL THEORIES BLAME SPOUSE ABUSE ON CULTURAL NORMS THAT LEGITIMATE WIFE BEATING, VIOLENCE WITHIN THE SOCIETY WHICH RESULTS IN FAMILY VIOLENCE, PREVAILING FAMILY SEX ROLES, AND ECONOMIC FRUSTRATION WITHIN FAMILIES. MANY ABUSED WOMEN STAY IN THE HOME BECAUSE OF EMOTIONAL TIES, SHAME, FEELINGS OF POWERLESSNESS, FEAR, ISOLATION, OR ECONOMIC DEPENDENCE ON THEIR SPOUSES. FORMAL AND INFORMAL COMMUNITY SYSTEMS FOR AIDING ABUSED WOMEN ARE OFTEN LIMITED BY LACK OF RESOURCES, AND FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OFTEN DO NOT WANT TO BECOME INVOLVED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. POLICE HESITATE TO INVESTIGATE DOMESTIC DISPUTES BECAUSE OF LEGAL RESTRICTIONS WHICH LIMIT THE DEGREE OF POLICE INVOLVEMENT IN SUCH MATTERS. SOME PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR BATTERED WOMEN INCLUDING THE CHISWICK WOMENS AID PROJECT IN LONDON (ENGLAND), AND THE VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATE PROGRAM IN ARIZONA. SUCH PROGRAMS USUALLY OFFER EMERGENCY HOUSING, CRISIS INTERVENTION, HOTLINES, COUNSELING, AND LEGAL ADVOCACY. THE MODEL PROGRAM FOR ABUSED WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES DESCRIBES PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, GENERAL POLICIES, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, SERVICE COMPONENTS, CHILDREN SERVICES, PROGRAM SUPPORT SERVICES, AND COORDINATION MECHANISMS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (DAG)