THE CENTER SERVES APPROXIMATELY 40 BOYS BETWEEN 7 AND 16 YEARS OF AGE. UNDER THE VISITATION PROGRAM, A BOY MAY VISIT WITH A FAMILY 1 OR MORE WEEKENDS A MONTH, DEPENDING ON THE DESIRES OF THE FOSTER FAMILY, THE NEEDS OF THE CHILD, AND THE VISITING PATTERN OF BIOLOGICAL FAMILIES. PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED WITH RESPECT TO THE MANIPULATION OF FOSTER FAMILIES BY CHILDREN, EMOTIONAL CONFLICT BETWEEN LOYALTY TO FOSTER FAMILIES AND BIOLOGICAL PARENTS, AND FEELINGS OF ABANDONMENT ON THE PART OF FOSTER FAMILIES ONCE THEIR CASE WORKERS WITHDREW. HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM DEMONSTRATED THAT BOTH FAMILY AND CHILD CAN ENTER INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT FEELING PRESSURED FOR IT TO SUCCEED. MANY CHILDREN WHO MIGHT NEVER ACCEPT THE RISK OF FOSTER HOME FAILURE AGREE TO TRY THE WEEKEND VISITATION PROGRAM. THE CHILDREN DISPLAYED REMARKABLE RESILIENCY AND AN ABILITY TO COPE WITH TWO ENVIRONMENTS IN A SINGLE WEEK; THIS GAVE SOCIAL WORKERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW BEHAVIOR FROM TWO PERSPECTIVES. IT IS ALSO HEALTHY FOR THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE INSTITUTION, TO EXPERIENCE THE TYPE OF INTERACTION GENERATED BY THE PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, SUCH VISITS ALLOW CHILDREN TO TEST GAINS MADE IN PERSONAL THERAPY IN A REAL-LIFE SETTING; CHILDREN MAY BE ABLE TO TRANSFER TO OTHER SETTINGS THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THE WEEKEND FOSTER FAMILY.