UNDER THE NEW CAREERS PROGRAM 16 LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS SELECTED FROM 175 APPLICANTS, WERE TRAINED AS SCHOOL-COMMUNITY WORKERS (SCW) AND ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA. THE JOB REQUIREMENTS WERE--(1) HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR EXPERIENCE IN A DIRECT, PERSON-TO-PERSON RELATIONSHIP IN SCHOOL OR IN SOCIAL SERVICE RELATED WORK, (2) THE CAPABILITY OF BEING TRAINED FOR THE JOB, (3) THE MATURITY, MOTIVATION AND ABILITY TO RELATE TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL, STUDENTS AND PARENTS, (4) THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT AND RECORD HOME INTERVIEWS, (5) THE CAPABILITY OF LEADING PARENT DISCUSSION GROUPS, AND (6) THE ABILITY TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL AND DISCUSS ITS PROGRAMS WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS. THE GROUP PARTICIPATED IN A 9-WEEK ORIENTATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDED WORK WITH YOUTH, COMMUNITY, JOB CORPS, AND EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES. DURING THE SUMMER THE SCWS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A SEPARATE PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY ORIENTED TO THEIR JOBS IN THE SCHOOLS. THE SCW'S ACTUAL TASKS ENCOMPASSED (A) INDIVIDUAL CASE WORK IN WHICH THE SCW CONDUCTS A CONTINUED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STUDENT, HIS PARENTS AND HIS TEACHER (A MANAGEABLE CASE LOAD IS 8), (B) DIRECT REFERRALS OF STUDENTS WHOSE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR HAS REQUIRED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, (C) COMMUNITY CONTACTS IN WHICH SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE INTERPRETED TO THE PARENTS AND SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL PTA IS DEVELOPED. PRINCIPALS AND SUPERVISORS AGREED THAT THESE AND OTHER TASKS PERFORMED WITH CHILDREN AND PARENTS BY SCWS WERE OF GREAT HELP. (LC)