The project was contracted by Massachusetts' Department of Public Welfare (DPW) because of the high cost of residential treatment that had not proven effective. Participants for TAP were selected from cases that had satisfied the DPW's eligibility criteria for residential mental health services, and all were voluntary. Most of the children came from economically marginal, chaotic, single parent families and suffered from parental neglect, abandonment, or abuse. They were generally healthy, but exhibited learning disabilities and poor academic performance in school. TAP staff provided intensive, community-based treatment services to the children and their families which averaged 3.5 hours per case. When a child had to be placed in a foster home or residential treatment center, the TAP staff member retained responsibility and tried to return the child home or to a less restrictive environment as soon as pos