The Urban Home Program in Westchester County was designed to resocialize juveniles between the ages of 13 and 18, with an IQ of at least 100, who were experiencing serious adjustment problems in the home and community. The program, which began in 1969, only accepted juveniles who were stable, had a sense of sexual identify, and functioned well enough to hold a job and plan for a return to the family. Four homes established by 1976 housed seven or eight youth under the care of a married couple. Group and individual programs were designed for the residents, using community volunteers and professionals from various disciplines. The program was successful in returning the youth to their families with new social skills and behavioral patterns. The program was undermined when a new "get tough" policy was adopted by the State Division for Youth. The demand for stricter treatment of delinquents caused overcrowding in existing facilities for delinquents, and the Division of Youth started placing delinquents in the Urban Home Program. Since the program was not designed to handle such youth, the original structure was no longer effective. The program's initial conception and structure was thus undermined. 11 references