CURRENTLY SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVES TO THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF CHILDREN PERSIST IN PHYSICALLY SEPARATING CHILDREN FROM THEIR NATURAL FAMILIES AND DO NOT PROVIDE PREVENTIVE MEASURES THAT MIGHT PRECLUDE THE REMOVAL OF CHILDREN FROM THEIR HOMES. THE MODEL PROGRAM BEING DEVELOPED WOULD ASSESS CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS AND DEVELOP A PLAN WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR DIRECT SERVICES AND COUNSELING FOR FAMILIES. DIRECT SERVICES SUCH AS DAY CARE, JOB TRAINING, OR JOB LOCATION ARE DIRECTED AT REMOVING CAUSES OF TENSION WITHIN THE FAMILY. COUNSELING SERVICES CONCENTRATE ON HELPING FAMILY MEMBERS DEAL WITH THE TENSION THAT IS ALREADY PRESENT. THE PROGRAM WOULD PLAN FOR FLEXIBILITY IN ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR MEETINGS WITH THE FAMILY (E.G., A HOME, CHURCH, OR OFFICE LOCATION) AND THE TIMES OF SUCH MEETINGS. A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE CLIENTS' CULTURAL MORES AND A COMMITMENT TO THE STRENGTHS PRESENT IN THE FAMILY SYSTEM ARE ALSO IMPORTANT. SERVING SPECIFIC CATCHMENT AREAS, THE PROGRAM WOULD GET REFERRALS FROM DEPARTMENTS OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES SERVING THE CATCHMENT AREA. PARTICIPATION WOULD BE VOLUNTARY; THE FAMILY WOULD MEET FIRST WITH THE SOCIAL WORKER AND THEN BE REFERRED TO A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS WHO WOULD DRAW UP A TOTAL TREATMENT PLAN INVOLVING THE FAMILY IN THE PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES. GOALS ARE TO BE DEVELOPED AND WRITTEN SO THAT THE TEAM CAN EVALUATE THE PROGRESS. PROBLEMS TO BE ANTICIPATED INCLUDE A FAMILY'S RESISTANCE TO THE RESPONSIBILITY THE TREATMENT PROGRAM ENTAILS, THE PROFESSIONAL TEAM'S RELUCTANCE TO INVOLVE THE FAMILY COMPLETELY IN DEVELOPING AND EVALUATING TREATMENT PLANS, SELECTION OF A SERVICE COORDINATOR, AND THE CONSIDERABLE COSTS OF SUCH A PROGRAM. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MHP)