This paper is addressed to pscyhology graduate students who are considering a practicum experience in a community-oriented agency or institution. It contains several broad generalizations, all of which have notable exceptions. Some of these generalizations are: (1) the medical model still reigns supreme, with people in control of community mental health centers interested in little more than treating people in the community--this service means outpatient psychotherapy and inpatient ward management; (2) the caretaker and the advocate differ in how they resolve one of the basic problems of community intervention, setting limits of responsibility; (3) the advocate tends to engage in social action that is potentially disruptive to the social system, while the caretaker usually designs programs that are therapeutic for society as a whole; and (4) caretakers are often problem-oriented while advocates are people-oriented. Although the impression is given that community workers are divided into two camps--caretakers and advocates--in reality people are inconsistent and situational factors will often determine what stance a worker assumes. Students need to make a choice between the two camps to prevent compromising both positions and ending up working only for their own interests. (Author/PC)