Increasing attention is being paid to group homes as an alternative form of residential care for adolescents. In the home described here, young people who had been recommended for hospitalization or long-term residential treatment were helped by nonprofessional counselors to deal with their problems successfully. (Author)

Presents a national profile of youth problems and a literature review that focuses on the causes of each of the problem areas. Reviews what is known about preventive measures and the effectiveness of existing intervention strategies. Details the status of youth, teen pregnancy, school dropouts, substance abuse, and delinquency. (RJM)