A Retrospective View of the New Life Children's Program

Abstract

This article provides a description of a community-based demonstration project for the prevention and treatment of child abuse, entitled New Life Project. Psychodramatists designed the program to use life skills and psychodrama as the primary methods for treatment. A description of the work with children as well as the integration of the mothers' children's program receives special emphasis. The program demonstrated that significant gains in overall functioning could be obtained with a group that was characterized by profound intrapsychic, interpersonal, and economic disorganization. The program further demonstrated the value of using action methods and psychodrama with this population of mothers and children.