Passage of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 set in motion a vast proliferation of a variety of human services to depressed areas. Erstwhile consumers of service overnight became motivators and providers, rationalized by skill based on culture, feeling and communication, rather than training and knowledge. It was assumed that service was more effective when offered by peers, rather than professionals.The indigenous non-professional is poor, is from the neighborhood, and is often a member of a minority group.His family is poor. He is a peer of the client and shares a common background, language, ethnic origin, style, and group of interests whch it would be impossible and even undesirable for the professional to maintain.I