THE USE OF LOW INCOME NONPROFESSIONAL WORKERS IN SOCIAL SERVICES WAS FOUND TO BENEFIT BOTH THE WORKER AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCY. FIRST, IT INCREASES THE VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SLUM DWELLER AND PROVIDES HIM WITH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT OF A SATISFYING JOB. SECOND, THE LOW INCOME NONPROFESSIONAL AS A "SOCIAL CLASS MEDIATOR" FACILITATES EASIER COMMUNICATION AND, CONSEQUENTLY, THE GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF OTHER URBAN SLUM RESIDENTS IN A SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAM. MOBILIZATION FOR YOUTH (MFY) IN NEW YORK CITY EMPLOYS NONPROFESSIONALS IN THREE PROGRAMS--THE PARENT EDUCATION AIDE UNIT, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, AND THE VISITING HOMEMAKER SERVICE. MFY'S CRITERIA IN HIRING NONPROFESSIONALS ARE (1) EXPERTISE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF A PARTICULAR PROGRAM, (2) IDENTIFICATION WITH OTHER LOWER CLASS PEOPLE, AND (3) AN ACTION-ORIENTATION, THAT IS, A BELIEF IN GROUP SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF MINORITY GROUP STATUS AND POVERTY. SHARING MUTUAL INTERESTS WITH THE CLIENTS, AND UNENCUMBERED BY PROFESSIONAL ROLES, THE NONPROFESSIONAL TENDS TO BE MORE DIRECT AND REALISTIC IN DEALING WITH CLIENTS THAN THE PROFESSIONAL. CAREFUL ORGANIZATION CAN MINIMIZE THE COMPETITION BETWEEN THE NONPROFESSIONAL AND HIS HIGHER STATUS COLLEAGUES AND CAN DISCOURAGE THE FORMER FROM BECOMING POOR COPIES OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISORS. ALTHOUGH INSTITUTIONAL RIGIDITIES HAVE SOMETIMES LIMITED THEIR USEFULNESS, NONPROFESSIONALS HAVE CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO MFY PROGRAMS. (TD)