How can human service agencies make use of the ordinary people -- relatives, friends, neighbours, pastors -- who help each other? Do human service agencies have anything to offer them, considering they do a good job on their own? The authors present a thorough examination of the problems, benefits, history, goals and potentials of such collaboration. ′The breadth of experience of working with informal helpers that is presented in this book and the categories and strategies that are discussed will be an invaluable complement to discussion about similar work in this country...It is a challenging book expecially to professionals and agencies.′ -- British Journal of Social Work, 1982 ′...this work is a valuable resource because it is rooted in actual practice and describes program innovations in diverse agency and community contexts′ -- Journal of Primary Prevention, Vol 3 No2, Winter 1982