THE REPORT POINTS OUT THAT, IN GENERAL, CHRONIC PROBLEM PARENTS GREW UP IN ENVIRONMENTS OF EMOTIONAL IMPOVERISHMENT, INCONSISTENCY, CONFUSION, AND DISORDER, OFTEN WITH DEPRIVATION OF FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER. THESE PARENTS CATEGORIZE PEOPLE AS THOSE WHO GIVE AND THOSE WHO TAKE. THEY BLAME THEIR PROBLEMS ON EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES NOT UNDER THEIR CONTROL, AND THEREBY MITIGATE THEIR OWN FAILURES. CHRONIC PROBLEM FAMILIES DO NOT MAINTAIN SUSTAINED CONTACT WITH NEIGHBORS, FAMILY MEMBERS RARELY ACHIEVE HIGH EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, CHILDREN OF SUCH FAMILIES EITHER ARE IN SPECIAL CLASSES OR UNDERACHIEVE IN REGULAR SCHOOL PROGRAMS. WORKERS IN AGENCIES WHO DEAL WITH SUCH FAMILIES SHOULD BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR PATTERNS AND THEREBY LEARN HOW TO WORK WITH THEM SUCCESSFULLY. AT PRESENT, AGENCIES WHO WORK WITH CHRONIC PROBLEM FAMILIES HAVE LITTLE OR NO COMMUNICATION. THE REPORT ASSERTS THAT COORDINATION OF SOCIAL WORK AGENCIES WOULD RESULT IN A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE HANDLING OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN CHRONIC PROBLEM FAMILIES.