SUPPORT FOR STUDENT AND STAFF WIVES IN SOCIAL TRANSITION IN A UNIVERSITY SETTING

This paper describes an university sponsored, professionally mediated self-help support program for wives of graduate students and staff mem bers and discusses the rationale for its structure. First, we identify the kinds of problems these women have that make it difficult for the m to adapt to their new surroundings. We then present the program as i t now functions, together with reports on the wives' assessments of di fferent features of the program. In the discussion that follows, we ou tline the problems of implementing and maintaining this kind of suppor t program and suggest why self-help groups for this constituency need the active involvement of a professional familiar with the details of campus resources and social life. We also address the importance of lo cating that professional in a strategic place within the organization to be able to act on that knowledge.