THE FAMILY ABUSE PROJECT WAS INITIATED IN 1977 AND ITS MAIN COMPONENT WAS AN INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT UNIT OF PROFESSIONAL AND SOCIAL WORK STAFF. PROJECT STAFF WERE TO WORK WITH THE MANHATTAN FAMILY COURT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION AND WERE TO INTERVIEW VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE EVALUATION PLAN FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF PROJECT OPERATION CALLED FOR THREE MAJOR ELEMENTS: (1) DEVELOPMENT AND UTILIZATION OF FORMS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PROJECT CASE MANAGEMENT, INTERIM REPORTING, AND FINAL EVALUATION; (2) COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF BASELINE DATA REGARDING FAMILY OFFENSES HANDLED BY THE FAMILY COURT AND PROBATION DEPARTMENT; AND (3) END-OF-YEAR ANALYSIS OF DATA COLLECTED DURING EVALUATION TO ASSESS PROJECT FUNCTIONING AND TO COMPARE THE PROJECT WITH BASELINE STATISTICS. CASE MANAGEMENT FORMS DEVELOPED BY EVALUATORS INCLUDED AN INTAKE FACE SHEET, A FAMILY COURT ACTIVITY SHEET, INITIAL AND FOLLOWUP CONTACT AND SERVICE SHEETS, AND A DAILY LOG SHEET. DATA WERE OBTAINED FOR 142 CASES CONSTITUTING A RANDOM SAMPLE OF FAMILY OFFENSE CASES ENTERING THE FAMILY COURT SYSTEM FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1976, THROUGH JANUARY 31, 1977. RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PROJECT AND THE FAMILY COURT AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT WERE ASSESSED, AND DETERMINATIONS MADE CONCERNING HOW PROJECT CLIENTS FARED IN THE FAMILY COURT, WHO WAS SERVED IN THE FAMILY COURT, HOW CLIENTS PROCEEDED THROUGH THE FAMILY COURT AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, AND WHAT SERVICES THE PROJECT OFFERED TO CLIENTS. AS A SERVICE PROGRAM, THE PROJECT PERFORMED RELATIVELY WELL WITHIN THE FAMILY COURT FOR A LIMITED CASELOAD OF ABUSED WOMEN. THE PROJECT ACCOMPLISHED LITTLE WITH REGARD PROBATION DEPARTMENT BUT IT MAY HAVE POINTED THE WAY TOWARD MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF THE FAMILY COURT. AVAILABLE DATA SHOWED THAT THE PROJECT DID NOT SERVE A CROSS SECTION OF FAMILY OFFENSE VICTIMS ENTERING THE FAMILY COURT SYSTEM, SINCE PROJECT CLIENTS TENDED TO BE WOMEN WITH MORE CHILDREN, WHO WERE ABUSED, AND WHO CAME FROM MORE DETERIORATED FAMILY SITUATIONS THAN OTHER WIVES IN THE FAMILY COURT SYSTEM. COURT PERSONNEL APPRECIATED ESCORT SEVICES PROVIDED TO CLIENTS BY PROJECT STAFF, BUT THESE PERSONNEL ALSO INDICATED THAT SUCH SERVICE DID NOT AFFECT COURT ADMINISTRATION OR CASE OUTCOME. THE PROJECT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING CLIENTS MEET THEIR HOUSING AND SHELTER NEEDS, AND 75 PERCENT OF ALL PERSONS WHO RETURNED TO THE FAMILY COURT AFTER DISPOSITION OF THEIR ORIGINAL CASES SOUGHT THE PROJECT'S AID AGAIN. SUPPORTING DATA ARE TABULATED. (DEP)