These characteristics include a deep affection for the young people and an abiding concern for their welfare; a refusal to exclude or include anyone on the basis of previous behavior, psychiatric treatment, or diagnostic label; respect for each young persons's right and ability to work out his/her destiny; an insistence on running the house according to principles of participatory democracy; a willingess of counselors to be rigorously self-critical and attentive to dereliction from mutually decided upon rules; the presence of consultants to help shape the identified values and a supportive community; and the possibility of a relationship between young people and their counselors/consultants after leaving the house. Each of the four young people developed in several ways. Despite considerable individual variation, each seemed to pass through five fairly distinct stages: a quiet period of adjustment, reawakening of previous conflicts, integration into the house, a time of experimentation, and regression before leaving. Since they have been out on their own, all four young people -with little or no financial or emotional support from parents and without college education or the prospect of it -- have managed to sustain themselves. The Frye House experience suggests that it is possible in the setting of a collectively run group foster home for nonprofessional counselors to work successfully with young people who have been or who would otherwise be institutionalized.