IF, IN THE PROCESS OF A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION OF THE PATHOLOGY UNDERLYING A CHILD-ABUSING FAMILY, THIS DIAGNOSIS REVEALS 'INSUFFICIENT MOTHERING,' THEN A WORKER WITHOUT FORMAL TRAINING MAY BE THE MOST IDEAL THERAPIST. SUCH PARENT AIDES FULFILL A NONCRITICAL COUNSELING AND SUPPORT ROLE FOR 8 TO 12 MONTHS WITH THE FOLLOWING GOALS: (1) INSURING THAT THE CHILD IS NOT FURTHER INJURED; (2) INSURING THE CHILD'S RETURN TO THE FAMILY ONCE IT IS SAFE TO DO SO; (3) SHOWING PARENTS THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN PROVIDE HELP AND FRIENDSHIP; AND (4) INSURING THAT THE FAMILY IS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE SORTS OF IMPENDING CRISIS THAT OFTEN RESULT IN ABUSE. SUCH AIDES HAVE BEEN USED WITH OUTSTANDING RESULTS AND AT ONLY A FRACTION OF THE COST OF A FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL. VISITING NURSES MAY ALSO BE UTILIZED IN A SIMILAR ROLE. HOWEVER, CONTRARY TO THEIR TRAINING, VISITING NURSES MUST NOT GIVE TOO MUCH ADVISE OR PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO THE CHILDREN. RATHER, THEY MUST WORK TO EVOKE THE TRUST OF THE PARENT BY DEVELOPING A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE. A PART-TIME HOMEMAKER MAY ALSO ACT AS AN EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC INFLUENCE ON THE FAMILY. SHE CAN RELIEVE THE MOTHER OF SOME OF THE HOUSEHOLD CHORES (E.G., COOKING, CLEANING, SHOPPING), BUT AGAIN, SHE MUST NOT BE TOO BRISK OR EFFICIENT IN HER JOB. SHE IS THERE TO SUPPORT, NOT REPLACE THE MOTHER. OTHER EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION AND SERVICE EFFORTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) CRISIS NURSERIES, WHERE MOTHERS MAY LEAVE THEIR CHILDREN IN TIME OF STRESS; (2) FOSTER GRANDPARENTS, SUCCESSFULLY EMPLOYED IN PROGRAMS IN COLORADO; AND (3) MOTHER'S ANONYMOUS, A SELF-HELP GROUP WHICH SEEKS TO PREVENT SEVERLY DAMAGING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN A MOTHER AND HER CHILDREN. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ALL CHILD-ABUSING PARENTS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 2 PERSONS THEY CAN CALL UPON FOR HELP ON A 24-HOUR BASIS AND THAT AVAILABLE THERAPEUTIC MANPOWER SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO SKILLED PROFESSIONAL THERAPISTS WHEN NONPROFESSIONALS ARE CAPABLE OF SUCCEEDING IN THE SOCIAL WORKER ROLE. NO REFERENCES ARE CITED. (JSP)