This monograph contains articles on mental health needs, experiences, and preventive social work programs in ethnic minority communities. An overview by Gwenelle Styles O'Neal reviews factors that influence the mental health of ethnic minorities and explores family and community support networks for alleviating stress. Susan Bellinger examines mental health programs and preventive activities in the workplace and discusses efforts to evaluate these programs. June Brown considers whether primary prevention, which relies on examination of social conditions and environmental intervention, can improve the design of family and child social services. Samuel O. Miller and Rita Cates discuss distinctions and linkages between physical and mental health prevention approaches, consider prevention specifically for ethnic minorities, and discuss potentials for developing and implementing preventive programs. James Leigh examines preventive programs in the educational setting, and stresses the need for social work educators, practitioners, and students to be aware of how race and racism affect mental health. David Maldonado explores prevention among the minority elderly, focusing on the special needs of this group. Finally, Samuel O. Miller stresses the need to develop social work education curricula on preventive mental health in conjunction with existing social services, and examines social work curriculum development models for mental illness prevention among ethnic minorities. (MJL)