IN 1973, THE NEW YORK FOUNDLING HOSPITAL CENTER FOR PARENT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT BEGAN A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM UTILIZING A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TREATMENT APPROACH DESIGNED TO WORK WITH PARENTS TOWARD IMPROVING PARENTAL RESPONSIVENESS AND DECREASING SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS THAT CAN LEAD TO CHILD ABUSE. THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS TO THE PROGRAM: A RESIDENT PATIENT PLAN AND AN OUTPATIENT 'I CARE' PROGRAM. THE INPATIENT COMPONENT PROVIDES A RESIDENCE ACCOMODATING 8 MOTHERS AND 8 TO 10 CHILDREN. THE MOTHERS LIVE IN THE RESIDENCE FOR 3 TO 4 MONTHS AND THEN RETURN TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE AFTERCARE SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED. UPON ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM, PATIENTS ARE ADMINISTERED A BATTERY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS. THROUGH USE OF INTERVIEWS AND DAILY OBSERVATIONS OF MOTHER AND CHILD DURING THE FIRST 3 WEEKS, INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT PLANS ARE FORMULATED UTILIZING PROFESSIONAL AND PARAPROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR ACHIEVING TREATMENT GOALS. EACH MOTHER IS ASSIGNED A LAY THERAPIST WHO SERVES AS A FRIEND AND ADVOCATE AND WHO ALSO ACTS AS A LIAISON WITH OTHER AGENCIES IN SECURING HOUSING, A JOB, EDUCATION, OR DAY CARE FOR THE CHILD. THE THERAPIST IS ALSO INVOLVED IN TEACHING THE MOTHER HOW TO DISCIPLINE HER CHILDREN BY DEMONSTRATING APPROPRIATE MOTHERING TECHNIQUES. THE TREATMENT PRINCIPLE OF THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES THE NOTION OF ROLE-MODELING, BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT ABUSING AND NEGLECTFUL MOTHERS PERPETUATE THE INADEQUATE MOTHERING WHICH THEY, THEMSELVES, RECEIVED. VIDEO TAPE FEEDBACK HELPS THE MOTHER ANALYZE HER PROGRESS. THE OUTPATIENT 'I CARE' PROGRAM OFFERS IDENTICAL SERVICES BUT THE PATIENTS REMAIN IN THEIR HOME AND RECEIVE THERAPEUTIC ASSISTANCE THERE, WHILE REPORTING TO THE CENTER FOR SERVICES. IN 2 YEARS THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED 62 FAMILIES. INTERVENTION WAS SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTING SEPARATION OF THE MOTHER FROM THE CHILD IN 65 PERCENT OF THE CASES. IN THE REMAINING CASES, LONG-TERM SEPARATION HAS BEEN NECESSARY. THE MOTHERS RANGED IN AGE FROM 17 TO 28 YEARS; THE AVERAGE AGE WAS 22. FIFTY PERCENT OF THE MOTHERS WERE BLACK, 35 PERCENT OF SPANISH ORIGIN, AND THE REMAINDER WERE CAUCASIAN. THE MAJORITY OF THE MOTHERS SUFFERED FROM UNSATISFIED DEPENDENCY NEEDS AND DEPRESSIVE ATTITUDES, OFTEN LEADING TO A SENSE OF FRUSTRATION, VULNERABILITY, AND SELF-HATRED. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE PROGRAM, 20 MOTHERS MOVED INTO NEW AND IMPROVED HOUSING, 16 MOVED INTO NEW NEIGHBORHOODS, 7 SECURED EMPLOYMENT, AND 9 REPORTED AN IMPROVED RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)