IN ESTABLISHING A THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP, THE SOCIAL WORKER MUST SEEK TO RESPOND TO THE PARENT'S NEEDS, WHILE AVOIDING ANY SUGGESTION THAT THE PARENTS ARE PERFORMING INADEQUATELY IN THE PARENTING ROLE. THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK IS TO DETERMINE WHAT STRESSES THE FAMILY FACES. WORKERS MUST STRIVE TO ESTABLISH A BOND OF TRUST, AND NO MATTER WHAT CRISIS THE FAMILY MAY FACE, THEY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO TURN TO THE SOCIAL WORKER FOR HELP. BECAUSE THE NEEDS OF SOME ABUSING PARENTS HAVE BEEN UNMET FOR SO LONG, WORKERS MUST INTENSIFY THEIR EFFORTS IN PARTICULAR CASES; THEY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE 24-HOURS A DAY AND SHOULD PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY, OPENESS, AND TIME. IN FAMILIES WITH HISTORIES OF CHILD ABUSE, IT IS SOMETIMES NECESSARY TO ARRANGE FOR TEMPORARY FOSTER CARE, AND ALTHOUGH A SIMPLE SOLUTION MAY BE TO SEND THE CHILD TO GRANDPARENTS FOR A TIME, IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO INVOLVE SOMEONE BESIDES THE SOCIAL WORKER, SUCH AS A NURSE, PEDIATRICIAN, OR PSYCHIATRIST, IN AN EFFORT TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION BY GETTING THE PARENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS OF ANGER OR REJECTION. ATTENTION SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE PARENTS, NOT THE CHILD, AND BECAUSE MARITAL PROBLEMS CAN BE THE ROOT CAUSE OF ABUSE, THE SOCIAL WORKER SHOULD ASSIST THE PARENTS IN MEETING EACH OTHER'S NEEDS. BECAUSE THE PARENT'S ABILITY TO PERCEIVE AND DEAL WITH EACH OTHER IS SO OFTEN LIMITED THAT THE CHILD MAY BE THEIR ONLY LINK, IT IS THE SOCIAL WORKER'S ROLE TO CLARIFY THE DYNAMICS OF FAMILY INTERACTION AND TO HELP THE PARENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THEM. HOWEVER, THE PARENTS AND THE SOCIAL WORKER MUST SET REALISTIC GOALS, BECAUSE EXPECTATIONS THAT ARE TOO HIGH WILL ONLY LEAD TO FRUSTRATION AND PERHAPS MORE ABUSE. HELPING THE PARENTS UNDERSTAND AND COPE WITH PREGNANCY MAY ALSO SERVE TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE ABUSE. A MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE CHILD IS ALSO HELPFUL. A SINGLE REFERENCE IS CITED. (JSP)