At the same time the Children's Plan was introduced, an attempt to incorporate the private sector in the delivery of services to juveniles was also begun. Private sector operators agreed to a 3-year contract, and both private and public service delivery was evaluated. At the end of the second year, private sector operators withdrew and the State assumed responsibility for running the formerly privatized institution in January 1993. Reaction to the Children's Plan was favorable, particularly since it offered more community-based alternatives. The Children's Plan continues, even though the private sector is no longer involved in service delivery and no further comparison between the relative effectiveness of public and private service delivery can be made. 2 references