Is the mother in a safe place? If not, then have her contact either the courts or Deparment of Human Services to get the location of a safe house for battered women..........AND THEN GO THERE! Usually these places have access to items that mothers need to care for their children.

Next she needs to bring criminal charges against the father. Nobody changes, no matter what they say, after bashing in someone's face!

There are people out there that are paid to help out in situations like this (usually listed under County Programs in the phone book)............You may just need to help her hook up with them.