MUCH OF THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IS DERIVED FROM THE REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON VIOLENCE IN MARRIAGE ESTABLISHED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ADEQUATE SOCIAL POLICY FOR DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE AND WIFE BEATING ARE LISTED TO PROVIDE CRITERIA FOR ANALYZING EXISTING APPROACHES TO THESE PROBLEMS. IN CONSIDERING APPROACHES TO CHILD ABUSE, THE FOLLOWING ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED: THE IDENTIFICATION OF CHILDREN AT RISK, MULTIDISCIPLINARY CASE CONFERENCES, THE ROLE OF THE POLICE, THE ROLE OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, REGISTERS OF CHILDREN AT RISK, SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS' ROLE IN DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE, THE ROLE OF VOLUNTARY SERVICES, AND THE ROLE OF THE JUVENILE COURTS. IN DISCUSSING BATTERED WOMEN, THEIR IDENTIFICATION, AND THE ROLE OF POLICE, THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, THE LEGAL SYSTEM, LOCAL AUTHORITY SERVICES, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES, AND VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS ARE CONSIDERED. IT IS GENERALLY CONCLUDED THAT APPROACHES TO THE PROBLEMS OF CHILD AND WIFE ABUSE HAVE BEEN FRAGMENTED AND INEPT DUE TO A LACK OF COORDINATED PLANNING AND COOPERATIVE ACTION ACROSS INVOLVED PROFESSIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS. IT IS MAINTAINED THAT THE POLICE, LAWYERS, THE COURTS, MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND CONCERNED VOLUNTEER GROUPS MUST EACH DEPEND ON ALL THE OTHERS IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH ALL FACETS OF THE PROBLEM. A LACK OF EVALUATION RESEARCH IN DETERMINING THE EFFECTS OF EXISTING POLICIES IS NOTED. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM APPROACHES TO THE PROBLEMS SUPPORTED BY VALID RESEARCH TO PROVE EFFECTIVENESS IS CONSIDERED THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS BEFORE A CONTINUING, CONCENTRATED, MULTIDISCIPLINARY ATTACK ON CHILD ABUSE AND WIFE BEATING CAN BE MOUNTED. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH AN EMPIRICALLY BASED NETWORK OF PROGRAMS WILL ALSO IDENTIFY TRAINING NEEDS FOR THE PERSONNEL WHO WILL BE INVOLVED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)