A three-fold exploratory study was conducted to examine the current literature regarding the effects of spousal abuse on observing children, evaluate children's programs within battered women's shelters, and propose a model children's program designed to meet children's needs. Based on the literature and the children's programs currently existing, a model program was developed. Administrative staff in battered women's shelters identified as expert in the field of domestic violence service delivery were interviewed for their evaluation of the proposed model. The experts also identified barriers to implementation of the model and ethnic and cultural issues that affect service delivery. The model children's program was modified as a result of the experts' input. This report describes the development of the children's program and discusses barriers noted by experts in the field, recommendations for overcoming the barriers, cultural and ethnic differences which affect service needs, implications of the model children's program, and recommendations for shelter service providers and future research regarding children's programs within battered women's shelters. (Author/NB)