A group of 12 federally funded community mental health centers which make effective use of paraprofessionals is described. The purpose is to make mental health policy makers and service agency staff members aware of the wide range of innovative service models in existence in which paraprofessionals play diverse and crucial roles. A case study for each of the 12 centers briefly describes its program, services, organization, staff, training and supervision system, as well as the specific duties carried out by paraprofessional personnel. In addition to informing policy makers about effective use of paraprofessionals, this publication is designed to provoke interest in the longer report from which it was condensed. This report, "Paraprofessionals in Mental Health: Twelve Effective Programs," also contains information about how case sites were selected, a resource section, an appendix on supervision, and a concluding chapter highlighting the similarities of successful programs. (Author/BP)