A South African study examined how paraprofessionals were prepared to conduct life skills training. The study, which was designed from an ecosystemic perspective, was conducted in three phases. During phase 1 (1990), the professional members of the research team conducted six assertiveness training and parenting education groups in the community. During phases 2 and 3 (1991-1992), the research team conducted training courses for paraprofessionals in assertiveness and parenting skills and monitored the "spread" of skills into the community by making personal visits to new groups and holding feedback meetings with trainees. By the end of the 1-year follow-up period, the 23 people originally trained had disseminated the knowledge gained during their training to approximately 300 people. The trainees had implemented various activities, including courses, workshops, and meetings. The trainees' success in spreading their newly acquired skills in their own communities was not evaluated. It was recommended that future training of paraprofessionals be targeted toward people with extroverted personalities and that the training program's skills training and course-conducting components be split into two separate courses. Appended are course outlines for four assertiveness training and parenting skills sessions presented during the study. (Contains 80 references.) (MN)