BASED ON A CONCEPT DEVELOPED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGECT IN DENVER, COLO., THE PHOENIX PARENT AIDE PROJECT WAS BEGUN IN 1974. THE PROJECT IS SPONSORED BY THE MARICOPA COUNTY GENERAL HOSPITAL AND IS BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT THE EMOTIONAL NEEDS AND PRESSURE REACTIONS OF CHILD-ABUSING PARENTS CAN BE RELIEVED THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS WITH SUPPORTIVE, CARING, NONJUDGMENTAL, HELPING FRIENDS WHO DO NOT BEAR THE SYMBOLS OF AUTHORITY ASSOCIATED WITH PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS. IT IS BELIEVED THE PHOENIX PARENT AIDE PROJECT HAS BORNE OUT THIS THESIS. PARENT AIDES ARE HIRED THROUGH INTERVIEWS DESIGNED TO REVEAL THE EMPATHIC QUALITIES OF PERSONALITY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF EMOTIONAL MATURITY, REGARDLESS OF EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND. FOR THOSE SELECTED, TRAINING IS PROVDED IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: ESTABLISHING CONTACT, BASIC INTERVIEWING AND LISTENING SKILLS, COMMUNICATION EXERCISES, THE PSYCHOLOGY OF GIVING AND RECEIVING HELP, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE TRAINED PARENT AIDE IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE A NURTURING RELATIONSHIP TO THE ABUSING PARENT WHO HAS BEEN INACCESSIBLE BECAUSE OF HOSTILITY OR ISOLATION, SERVE AS ADVOCATE FOR ABUSIVE PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND PROMOTE COORDINATION OF EXISTING SERVICES WORKING WITH ABUSIVE FAMILIES. THE SELECTION OF FAMILIES TO BE HELPED, CRUCIAL ISSUES IN WORKING WITH PARENTS, SUSTAINING THE PARENT AIDE'S MOTIVATION, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AIDE AND THE PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKER ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS NOTED THAT 85 PERCENT OF THE PARENTS ASSIGNED TO THE PROGRAM DID NOT ABUSE THEIR CHILDREN AFTER CONTACT WITH A PARENTAL AIDE. (RCB)