The typical girl in distress in Israel comes from a Jewish family of oriental origin. Her distress is partially due to the strains of immigrating to Israel from, in most cases, North Africa. Authority models in distressed girls' families feature either the role of the father as the commanding familial authority figure; the mother as the dominant breadwinner; or the older brothers taking control of the family. Upon reaching adolescence, the girl's problems are manifested by states of vagrancy, familial conflict, and medical neglect. This process of moral degeneration operates as a continuum, eventually leading to the girl's running away from home, prostitution, and drug addiction. Methods of treatment aim at improving the girl's self-image and self-esteem, and developing strategies which allow her to positively cope in a difficult social milieu. Outreach programs are necessary to make contact with these girls in an individual or group context. (PPB)