This paper describes a model in which parents were taught to modify the behavior of their children. Parents were referred to the group after only brief screening consisting of a lengthy questionnaire, an intake interview with a clinician at a mental health center, and perhaps a brief discussion of the case at a disposition conference. Referrals to the program were made for those parents who indicated that their children manifested behavior problems. Thus, the group tested the adequacy of this model for outpatient treatment of children at a mental health center. Ten couples and one single parent agreed to participate in the course which was for ten two-hour sessions, and met once each week in the evening. The results of the course suggest that academically-oriented courses in behavior management are not sufficient treatment for a large percentage of family cases referred to psychiatric treatment facilities, although they may be adequate for other parent populations such as public school parents. The results further suggest that a more clinical group treatment approach should be considered. The fact that 77% of the group participants did carry out successful programs and that the parents did tend to learn the principles of behavior modification suggests that formal parent behavior modification courses can be the major treatment offered for certain selected clients, and can be of considerable adjunctive value with others. (Author/WSK)