THE FOOTHILL FAMILY SERVCE IS A NONPROFIT COUNSELING AGENCY DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING AND HARMONIZING FAMILY LIFE. IT WAS CREATED IN 1977 AND INCORPORATED A SMALL-SCALE PROGRAM OF DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. DESIGNED TO AMELIORATE THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE, THE PROGRAM AIMED TO MAKE CHILDREN HEALTHIER BY SENDING PARENTS AWAY TO DAY CAMP. A SERIES OF WEEKEND EXPERIENCES WAS OFFERED TO PARENTS COMBINING TRADITIONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY AND FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WITH NONTRADITIONAL USES OF RECREATION, MUSIC, AND ART. PRACTICAL CLASSES WERE OFFERED ALSO IN BUDGETING AND NUTRITION. SPECIFIC GOALS OF THE PROGRAM WERE TO TEACH PARENTS NEW AND CONSTRUCTIVE PARENTING SKILLS, TO FULFILL THE TOTAL SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF PARENTS, AND TO ELIMINATE THE CHILD ABUSE PRACTICES OF 90 PERCENT OF THE INDIVIDUALS. NINE FAMILIES WERE REACHED; 40 CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALONG WITH PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS FOM 10 DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN PASADENA WERE INVOLVED. NO ONE TECHNIQUE WAS USED EXCLUSIVELY. A FOUR-PART FORMAT WAS ADOPTED THAT EMPHASIZED SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-GRATIFICATION, MUTUAL SHARING, AND EMPOWERMENT. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE ANTIDOTE IN THE TREATMENT OF ABUSIVE PARENTS WAS PROVIDING THEM WITH HOPE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND EDUCATION. A CASE ILLUSTRATION AND OTHER RESULTS OF THE PROGRAM DOCUMENT THE SUCCESS OF THE DAY CAMP APPROACH. (DEP)