THE PERSONNEL OF THE FAMILY AGENT PROGRAMS WERE WOMEN OF COMFORTABLE MEANS WHO HAD TEN TO TWENTY HOURS A WEEK AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE TO THE POOR. THE TRAINING PROGRAM DESCRIBED IS DIVIDED INTO TWO PHASES--INITIAL TRAINING AND INSERVICE TRAINING. SUBJECTS COVERED INCLUDE--(1) CONCEPTS OF THE WAR ON POVERTY, (2) THE NATURE OF POVERTY, (3) THE CULTURE OF POVERTY, (4) ORIENTATION TO NEGRO AND MEXICAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES, (5) FAMILY AGENT PROCEDURES, (6) ORIENTATION TO THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, (7) TECHNIQUES FOR AND WORK OF FAMILY AGENTS, AND (8) THE ROLE OF THE SUPERVISOR. THE FAMILY AGENT PROGRAM EVALUATION SECTION DESCRIBES THE SERVICES OFFERED TO 235 FAMILIES, AND PRESENTS DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAMILIES AS WELL AS RESEARCH INTO THE LIFE STYLES OF THE POOR. THE STUDY EXAMINES FAMILIAL GOALS, RESOURCES, AND PROCESSES, AND IT FORMS COMPARISONS AMONG ANGLO, MEXICAN-AMERICAN, AND NEGRO FAMILIES BASED ON THESE THREE VARIABLES. THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY AGENT AS AN EFFECTIVE AID TO THE POOR IS EXPLORED. DEMOGRAPHIC AND PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FAMILY AGENTS AND CRITERIA FOR THE PREDICTION OF SUCCESS ARE EXPLORED. OVERALL CONCLUSIONS INDICATE THAT POTENTIALLY SUCCESSFUL FAMILY AGENTS CAN BE RECRUITED, IDENTIFIED, AND TRAINED TO RENDER A VALUABLE SERVICE, AND LOW-INCOME MULTI-PROBLEM FAMILIES DISPLAYING A VARIETY OF FAMILY STYLES AND PROBLEMS WILL ACCEPT AND BENEFIT FROM THESE SERVICES. (SF)