This educational manual was created to fill a gap in training new volunteer and paid staff for battered women's programs, and to place the work of providing support and advocacy in a broader context. Suggestions are given for supporting battered women, including Third World women and lesbians, and for dealing with anxiety and depression. The manual also discusses child abuse and child sexual assault, and gives advice on advocacy techniques for helping women obtain social, welfare, and legal services. Issues of race, class, and sexual preference are discussed, and basic information for dealing with women in emotional crisis, and women alcoholics and drug abusers is presented. The manual gives specific examples and suggestions for handling problems staffers may encounter. An annotated bibliography and a bibliography by chapter are included. (JAC)