There is evidence that informal caregiving systems, called natural helping networks, already carry much of the service load of community mental health services, and need to be strengthened to provide even more. Social network analysis is a useful tool for understanding how these informal mechanisms operate, as well as the way in which some professionals have begun to develop intervention techniques aimed at helping individuals improve the functioning of their personal networks. Social networks address the following areas of concern: (1) identification of fairly dense clusters of relationships based on residential proximity, working together, a common interest or problem, kinship, and a host of other linkages; (2) the findings of individuals who are especially important to the other members, i.e., central figures; and (3) the development of techniques for identifying central figures which can be applied in a variety of settings, using a modified consultation model, which is presented and compared to other forms of intervention such as training. (Author)