THIS COMMUNITY-FUNDED PROJECT RECEIVED ITS FIRST CHILD IN 1970. BY AUGUST 26, 1976, THE BASE DATE OF THE EVALUATION, IT HAD SERVED 160 CHILDREN, 46 WERE CURRENTLY IN RESIDENCE, AND 39 WERE ON A WAITING LIST. THE COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN HOUSE PARENT AND THERAPIST, EACH ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR SERVICE TO THE YOUNG PERSON, IS PRAISED. THE GROUP HAS ALSO BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL IN MOVING INTO NEW NEIGHBORHOODS AND PROMOTING THE CONCEPT THAT ITS MEMBERS ARE JUST ANOTHER FAMILY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IN ONLY ONE INSTANCE HAS THERE BEEN OBJECTION TO A GROUP HOME. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF INTENSIVE REMEDIAL EDUCATION, ART THERAPY, PLANNED GROUP PROJECTS, FORMAL SOCIAL WORKER INTERVENTION IN APPROPRIATE CASES, AND A CONSULTING PSYCHIATRIST PROVIDING MEDICAL SUPERVISION. ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF CLIENTS ARE FEMALE AND ARE GENERALLY COMMITTED FOR STATUS OFFENSES OR DEPENDENCE. BECAUSE OF ITS BROAD BASE OF PUBLIC SUPPORT, THE PROJECT HAS BEEN ABLE TO HIRE MORE HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF THAN IS USUALLY FOUND IN A GROUP HOME ARRANGEMENT, HAS ACCESS TO A WIDE NETWORK OF VOLUNTEER RESOURCES, AND AS A RESULT HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO A GOOD JOB OF PREPARING ITS YOUNG PEOPLE TO FUNCTION ADEQUATELY IN THE COMMUNITY. COST PER CHILD IS $44 A DAY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT OTHER GROUP HOME EFFORTS COPY THE MORE SUCCESSFUL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM: (1) GAINING NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE BEFORE THE CHILDREN ACTUALLY MOVE INTO THE HOME; (2) USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO AUGMENT HOME RESOURCES; (3) THE COMPREHENSIVE INTAKE AND ORIENTATION PROCEDURE AND ASSIGNMENT TO A GROUP HOME WITH A STRUCTURE MOST LIKELY TO BENEFIT THE CHILD (STRICT, GREAT AUTONOMY, ETC.); AND (4) THE FAMILY ATMOSPHERE OF THE HOME.