The employer's foundation board assembled the domestic abuse program team in the belief that a prevention program might be more effective than the cash grants it currently provided to employees in crisis. The foundation board identified a garment plant in rural Tennessee; 90 percent of the approximately 900 employees were female. A murder resulting from domestic violence and several other incidents of severe domestic assault were well known to the employees. The domestic violence program included the distribution of written materials to management, employee services personnel, and employees; employee training on domestic abuse awareness and victim services; a workplace support group for victims, and other services. Plant-wide surveys were conducted before, immediately after, and 1 year after the intervention. This program's experience and the research literature both indicate the elements crucial to successful collaborative research. These include common goals, a consensus on values, agreed-on responsibilities and roles, directive and receptive leadership, clearly defined decision-making processes, formal communication mechanisms, and monitoring processes. A proactive plan is also crucial. 26 references