Children who are developmentally disabled are more often handicapped by a lack of social skills than by intellectual limitations. The pilot program described here improved the psychosocial functioning of such children by involving them in one-to-one relationships with caring adults. (Author)

The Widowed Service Line, a mutual help program in metropolitan Boston that provided service by telephone, effectively meeting the various problems and needs of differing stages of widowhood, is described. (Author)

Describes a hypothetical program called the Helper Bank, which uses time instead of money as the medium of exchange for services. The reciprocal relationship allows older persons to volunteer to help others as well as provide for future needs such as shopping, transportation or housekeeping. (JAC)

Two concepts--"Smother Love" and "Tough Love"--were used successfully in a training program for senior citizens preparing to become companions to hospital patients. This dependent versus interdependent framework enables the helpers to establish constructive relationships with patients. (SJL)

The author describes a program for treatment of alcoholism among Baltimore's growing population of American Indians. Although the program is still in the early stages of operation, its chance of success seems to be promising because it takes into account conflicting influences of the Indian and American cultures. (Author)

Despite the frequency of the crime, victims of rape frequently prefer to remain silent and fail to take advantage of the services their communities may offer. In describing an effective rape-treatment program, the author suggests ways to overcome this reluctance. (Author)

Using his psychobiography of Frederick Douglass as an example, the author describes how such material may be used to teach psychoanalytic developmental theory to parents who are enrolled in social welfare programs. (Author)

The authors describe and illustrate a procedure through which the effectiveness and efficiency of intervention can be measured objectively by the practitioner. (Author)

An experimental program for rehabilitating people convicted of driving while intoxicated was studied to determine how personally responsible behavior could be encouraged. The authors attribute the program's success to the egalitarian atmosphere in which staff members dealt with clients. (Author)

Because feelings workers experience as part of counter-transference may affect attitudes toward clients and their performance of casework, such feelings are the concern of supervisors and workers. An exercise which has been used successfully in the exploration by worker and supervisor of feelings that are nontherapeutic is presented. (Author)

By its very nature, writing encourages the active participation of the client in the problem-solving process. For individuals who have been unable to take full advantage of the more traditional "let's talk about it" type of counseling, it can prove to be a significant step in the right direction. (Author)

The author discusses the utility and drawbacks of social work counseling in the homes of clients based on his own experiences. Such an approach allows the social worker to assess the home and intrafamilial communications patterns plus the adolescents involved often feel more comfortable in the home setting. (EJT)

Two training programs in rural Iowa demonstrated community helpers can be trained to function effectively in rural mental health service delivery. Comparable training programs sponsored by the center are currently in progress. Training these natural helpers in interpersonal skills is an important service of community mental health centers. (Author)