This ecological approach argues that the social context in which families live triggers individuals at risk for abuse into abusing or into refraining from abuse. Families at risk have few relationships outside the home, lack enduring roots in their immediate neighborhoods, and have a lifelong history of avoiding activities that would bring them into contact with other adults. Addressing this ecological approach to the problem, the contributors to this volume explore alternatives to relieve social impoverishment of families, particularly at the local, State, and Federal Government levels. A look at the Swedish experience reveals a strategy to integrate formal and informal support systems. An official Swedish family policy emphasizes the social responsibility of one generation to care for the next, taking the burden partly away from the family. Concrete manifestations include monetary allowances to families for each child, various forms of work leave for parents, a myriad of social and recreational services, and a system of health clinics providing prenatal and postnatal care and screening for potential family problems. In addition, Swedish social workers make a real effort to build social networks among families in a neighborhood. A discussion of the personal social networks of families suggests intensive study of the range of community settings in which families participate, the individuals who are trusted in those settings, and the culture of these trusted people. An analysis of neighborhoods defines and describes types of neighborhoods in terms of how their residents relate socially. These include integral or close-knit communities; parochial neighborhoods whose residents have ethnic or homogenous ties; diffuse and stepping-stone neighborhoods, with decreasing degrees of resident interaction; and anomic neighborhoods with no cohesion. Remaining papers offer suggestions for putting these ecological perspectives into practice. Social work professionals are given a model for identifying neighborhoods (and a short screening form) They are also presented with ways for identifying central figures in personal social networks and for mobilizing them to support at-risk families. A caution to not overlook the needs of mother and children completes the anthology. This last paper also describes the Prenatal Early Infancy Project operating in rural New York State's Appalachian region. Over 150 references and an index are provided.