The TSPP can be adapted to almost any situation, whether the task be planning for a statewide or regional network of alternative services or improving conditions of confinement in a local detention center. The method is also useful in facilitating accurate program evaluation after the changes have been implemented. The TSPP differs from other planning strategy models in being based on three principles that stem from the mandates of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 and its subsequent amendments. One of the key principles is a commitment to the use of objective detention criteria. The TSPP is also designed to foster a greater commitment to using a network of alternative services (alternatives to jail or secure detention). This involves facilitating the choosing of the least restrictive placement by police officers and court officials. A third principle is the belief that program planners should view proposed services from a youth-advocacy perspective as well as from an administrative perspective. The goal of the TSPP is to produce programs that are suited to the specific needs of a jurisdiction. The six-step planning process described in this paper consists of getting organized, conducting a needs assessment, obtaining public input, establishing policy and developing a plan, implementing the plan, and monitoring the system. The advantages of the TSPP are making planning tasks more manageable and providing a transferable set of problemsolving skills that can be used in a wide range of contexts.