This paper reports the progress of an ongoing clinical research project on prevention services for at risk infants of mentally ill mothers. This project extends the prevention focus of early education programs into the mental health field. Previous research findings indicate that maximum preventive effects are achieved when programs (a) begin before the infant is 3 years old and (b) focus on facilitating specific mother-child interactions. Three types of intervention, ranging from a relatively simple nonintrusive format to a more complex multi-faceted format, were proposed in the project. The interventions were designed to improve the use of community resources by target families; to help parents recognize and respond to the child's changing health and safety needs; to help parents recognize and respond to the child's needs for appropriate cognitive, social, and linguistic stimulation; and to foster more adaptive and conflict-free forms of attachment between mothers and infants. Effects of the program are evaluated by means of videotape observations, interviews, and a battery of assessment devices. Pre- and posttest measures of a variety of child-parent outcomes are assessed by an evaluation team blind to the intervention used with each family. Entrance requirements for participants are noted, and changes in the program due to community pressures and research needs are described. (Author/DB)