An employment socialization project was developed to reduce the re-hospitalization of patients by assisting them in their re-entry into the world of work. The project was established by ex-psychiatric patients who took major responsibility for planning and implementing the project's activities with the clinic staff serving in an advisory capacity. Group meetings, directed by counselors, were held three times per week, with part of each meeting being devoted to employment related discussions and activities and part to recreation. Two successive programs were developed to increase the employability of chronic patients. During its three years of operation 250 patients have been referred to the project, and although no-statistical assessment is available many individuals have been employed for significant lengths of time. The essential benefits of the project appear to be: (1) it relieves clinicians of much of the load of providing supportive contact and serves to prevent or minimize breakdowns in patient's functioning; (2) it provides social-recreational experiences which can be used as an adjunct or alternative to psychotherapy; and (3) it offers opportunities for psychiatric patients to assume a formal role in helping others. (RSM)