A RESEARCH TEAM STUDIED INFLUENCES, ADAPTATION, AND ADAPTABILITY IN 50 POORLY ADAPTING BOYS AT BELLEFAIRE, A REGIONAL CHILD CARE CENTER FOR EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED CHILDREN. THE TEAM ATTEMPTED TO GAUGE THE SUCCESS OF THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER IN TERMS OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PATTERNS AND ROLE PERFORMANCES OF THE BOYS DURING INDIVIDUAL CASEWORK TREATMENT AND AFTER 1 TO 2 YEARS OF POSTINSTITUTIONAL LIFE. THE BOYS (IQ'S 67-137) RANGED IN AGE FROM 5-11 TO 16-6 YEARS AT ADMISSION TO THE CENTER AND STAYED AN AVERAGE OF 3 1/2 YEARS (RANGE = 1/2 TO 6 1/2 YEARS). DATA COLLECTED INCLUDED FACTUAL INFORMATION, MEASURES OF ADAPTABILITY OR POTENTIALITY FOR ADJUSTMENT, CASEWORK VARIABLES SUCH AS TREATMENT AIMS AND THE CHILD'S RESPONSE, VARIOUS STAFF EVALUATIONS, SITUATIONAL VARIABLES OF STRESS OR SUPPORT AT FOLLOWUP, AND INFORMATION ON THE CHILD'S ACTUAL BEHAVIOR WITH PEERS, ADULTS, AND TASKS. THE RESEARCH TEAM FOUND RELATIVELY HIGH SUCCESS IN THE INSTITUTION AND IN THE FOLLOWUP. HOWEVER, POSITIVE ADAPTATION TO THE INSTITUTION DID NOT FORECAST ADEQUACY IN THE POST-INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT. THE SUPPORTIVE OR STRESSFUL NATURE OF SITUATIONAL FACTORS (PARTICULARLY AFTER DISCHARGE) AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AFTERCARE PLANS SUGGESTED BY THE CENTER STAFF WERE FOUND TO BE IMPORTANT. INCREASED EXPOSURE OF CHILDREN TO THE COMMUNITY WHILE THEY WERE AT THE INSTITUTION WAS ALSO DEMONSTRATED TO BE NECESSARY. DATA ARE PRESENTED FOR SUBGROUPS OF OLDER (13 YEARS AND OVER) AND YOUNGER (UNDER 13 YEARS) BOYS. APPENDIXES INCLUDE COMPONENTS OF INDEXES AND SCALES, INTRAPSYCHIC BALANCE SCALES, ROLE FULLFILLMENT SCALES, SITUTATIONAL VARIABLES AT FOLLOWUP, INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE RATER, AND RATING ROLE FULLFILLMENT SCALES WHICH WERE USED IN THE STUDY. THIRTY-TWO TABLES ARE INCLUDED. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FROM THE CHILD WELFARE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, INC., 44 EAST 23RD STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10010, FOR $5.00. (TE)