AbstractThis article reviews the development of a school social work program in parochial schools of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The impact of the changing needs of the parochial school student and the demands of program accountability on program development are assessed. Catholic Social Services, a human services agency of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, embarked on a school outreach program in 1967. Since then, the program has moved from a mental health model with a focus on meeting individual needs to a school social work model that attends more closely to the interactions between the child and his or her environment. Annually articulating goals and objectives in light of student needs, negotiating for services with individual schools, and thorough documentation have led to this more proactive approach. Several positive outcomes of this shift in emphasis are discussed.