The Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence based the manual on experience gained through pilot workshops presented during 1979 and 1980. The major focus of the manual is on aspects of and solutions to violence that are unique to the rural setting. Since law enforcement and social service personnel are not always readily available in rural areas, special emphasis has been placed on religious community resources. Some of the activities involved in planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating workshops on family violence for religious and secular professionals and paraprofessionals are described. Sample presentations and articles on family violence which may be used for background material and handouts are included. The manual is concerned with background and planning, and it contains an approach to education and training on family violence, purposes and objectives of such an approach, information on workshop planning, and tips for workshop leaders. The manual also contains a model 1-day workshop format, a model 3-day workshop format, information on the use of these formats, and suggestions for general public education presentations. Sample presentations and commentaries are given on such topics as the person who batters, victims of spouse abuse, incest offenders, family violence directed against children, nonoffending parents of victims of incest, religious issues in family violence, and rural issues and family violence. The appendix contains information on successful programs, an annotated bibliography with about 30 citations, a questionnaire for workshop participants, workshops evaluation forms, a sample brochure, and reprinted articles.