Dona Ana Mental Health Services (DAMHS) in Las Cruces, New Mexico, has completed a five year demonstration project intended "to explore the effectiveness of a special method of selecting, assigning, training, and giving consultation to nonprofessional mental health workers as they and the community develop special mental health services." These DAMHS nonprofessionals, called mental health project leaders, were second career people who had some skills relating to DAMHS jobs but were not qualified mental health workers. Trainee selection, training techniques, the role and selection of consultants, functions of mental health nonprofessionals, and approaches to developing community projects, were expected to change--and did undergo change--in response to what trainees and projects seemed to need at different points in time. Similarly, trainee reactions to DAMHS methods varied greatly from one phase to another. At the close of the project, a 24 hour crisis center, an alcoholism project, a juvenile program, and a day care center for emotionally disturbed and retarded children, were in operation. Nonprofessionals had relative success in establishing community projects, recruiting volunteers, and attracting responsible citizens to serve on boards. (LY)