Primary prevention strategies (prevention at the community level) for disadvantaged populations are discussed. A number of factors in Canadian society have placed additional stress on many poor and working class families. These include issues of housing, unemployment, lack of education, and social changes with adverse effects on the disadvantaged. The impact of these issues is not limited to the children of the poor; being middle class is no guarantee that life will go well. Some disadvantaged children are sufficiently resilient to succeed academically and socially despite disadvantage. Resilient children have been shown to be social participators, able to accept authority, with the ability to concentrate and pay attention and an identifiable area of achievement. Factors that increase the likelihood of development of these traits include being healthy and of normal weight at birth, having an auspicious temperament, having "good enough" parenting, and living as part of a stable and cohesive community. Primary prevention is needed at the community level to encourage these factors. Some primary prevention projects have demonstrated their efficacy in freeing disadvantaged children from the worst effects of disadvantage. Twelve features of successful programs are outlined, and some exemplary programs are described. There will never be enough mental health professionals to treat all children with psychiatric disorders. The most senior and skilled professionals can be best used by using a consultee-centered and program-centered mental health consultation model to maximize the multiplier effect of such programs. Examples of effective and ineffective mental health consultation show how the efficacy of indirect interventions can be enhanced. (Contains 123 references.) (SLD)