THE PROJECT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE OUTPATIENT CLINIC OF THE ROCKLAND COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN NEW YORK. THE TRAINEES, ALL OF WHOM WERE FEMALE, WERE SELECTED FROM 24 APPLICANTS. NO EFFORT WAS MADE TO SCREEN OUT HIGH-RISK APPLICANTS. TRAINING FOLLOWED A MULTISTAGE CAREER LADDER, WITH INDIVIDUALS PROGRESSING FROM ONE SKILL LEVEL TO THE NEXT ACCORDING TO THEIR CAPABILITIES. THE TRAINING LEVELS WERE DESIGNATED INITIATOR, FACILITATOR, AND REHABILITATOR. TRAINEES PARTICIPATED IN PRIMARY PREVENTION SELF-HELP GROUPS FOR FORMER DRUG ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS, WORKED IN THE COUNTY YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU AND IN A STATE-RUN ALCOHOLISM PROGRAM, MADE HOME VISITS, PARTICIPATED IN SENIOR CITIZEN ACTIVITIES, DEVELOPED CAMPING PROGRAMS FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CLIENTS, PERFORMED COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS, ASSISTED CLINICIANS IN INTAKE AND GROUP WORK, AIDED CONSUMER ADVOCACY PROGRAMS, ASSISTED IN RESEARCH AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES, AND PROVIDED CLERICAL AND SECRETARIAL BACKUP. KEY ELEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE TRAINING WERE SUPERVISED EXPERIENCE, LECTURES, SEMINARS, FIELD VISITS, DAILY LOGS KEPT BY THE TRAINEES, AND DEBRIEFING WORKSHOPS. EVALUATION SHOWED THE PROGRAM TO BE FEASIBLE, PRACTICAL, COST EFFECTIVE, AND GENERALIZABLE. THE PROGRAM WAS SUCCESSFUL IN FREEING TRAINEES OF THE 'FORMER MENTAL PATIENT' STIGMA AND IN DEVELOPING A NEW SOURCE OF MANPOWER FOR THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA FROM THE EVALUATION ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)