In 1968, a project entitled "Accelerated Training Programs in Underprivileged Environments" attempted to investigate possibilities of preventive mental health techniques through early implementation of behavior modification procedures. The general objects of this project were: to alter the pre-school environment of children aged 0-5 from a culturally deprived welfare population in order to achieve behavior which is socially and economically compatible with that of American life; to work with the mothers of these pre-school children to increase their capacities to provide an emotionally stable home environment; to work with underprivileged high school and college youths in order to train them as teachers of the underprivileged; and, to work with children now in the public schools who are functioning academically at a level significantly lower than the grade level in which they are enrolled. In January 1969, a Child Development Center was established to fulfill the terms of the Project. Its program differed from programs such as Head Start. Children participated year-round in full-day sessions. Terminal behaviors were identified and then broken down into component parts which could be taught to children. A contingency management system was employed to facilitate a high success rate. (Authors/JM)