THE EMERGENCE OF WIFE ABUSE AS A SOCIAL ISSUE HAS ENABLED MANY WOMEN TO DISCUSS OPENLY THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING BEATEN. THE ADEQUACY OF TRADITIONAL SERVICES IS BEING CHALLENGED AS ALTERNATIVE SERVICES ARE ESTABLISHED FOR ABUSED WIVES. SOME PROFESSIONALS ESTIMATE THAT WIFE ABUSE OCCURS IN 50 PERCENT OF ALL HOMES IN THE UNITED STATES. HOMICIDE RECORDS ATTEST TO THE EXTENSIVENESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ABUSED WOMEN ARE FOUND IN ALL RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS. BECAUSE SOCIETY HAS LARGELY IGNORED THE PROBLEM OF WIFE BEATING, COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE OFTEN NOT AVAILABLE FOR BATTERED WIVES. STANDARD FORMS OF LEGAL, JUDICIAL, AND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE DO NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE WOMEN IN MANY CASES. IMPROVED SERVICES ARE NEEDED IN THE AREAS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, LEGAL AND JUDICIAL, MEDICAL, AND SOCIAL SERVICES (E.G., TEMPORARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE THE WIFE TO MOVE OUT AND ESTABLISH A HOME, DAY CARE, COUNSELING, AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES). THE DELIVERY OF SOCIAL SERVICES IS HINDERED BY SERVICE FRAGMENTATION, DISCONTINUITY AND INACCESSIBILITY, AND PROFESSIONAL NONACCOUNTABILITY. A MAJOR GOAL OF GROUPS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES FOR ABUSED WOMEN SHOULD BE TO HEIGHTEN THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF SEX DISCRIMINATION OF THOSE IN TRADITIONAL AGENCIES, PERHAPS THROUGH WORKSHOPS, AS A MEANS OF ALTERING PROFESSIONAL ROLES AND IMPROVING THE OVERALL DELIVERY OF SERVICES. PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT OR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COORDINATED LINKAGES AMONG COMMUNITY SERVICES CAN IMPROVE SERVICES, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO ACCESS AND CONTINUITY. OTHER WAYS TO IMPROVE SERVICES ARE CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN WOMEN'S GROUPS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, TELEPHONE HOTLINES, THE INCORPORATION OF A COMMUNITY SERVICE NETWORK SYSTEM INTO STRATEGIES FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE GREATER CONTINUITY OF SERVICES, AND CASE INTEGRATION (I.E., COORDINATION OF SERVICES FOR EACH WOMAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH HER NEEDS). NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)