It describes and critically assesses current thinking on this issue as well as the implications of this research for Canadian policy and programming. Four main themes emerge from the papers: transition is a process; adulthood involves more than self-support and includes the ability to maintain intimate relationships and lead a healthy lifestyle; the process of transition may vary by subgroups within the population; and transitions must be examined both in terms of the individual qualities of youth and available socioeconomic opportunities. The papers are presented under six topics: international perspectives on youth transitions, facilitating transitions to adulthood, preparing for the world of work, preparation for intimacy and family life, preparation for responsible community living, and research agenda. These six sections contain a number of papers that focus on factors that influence particular delinquent behaviors, such as childhood sexual abuse and its influence on subsequent behaviors, abusive dating relationships, youth involvement in illicit street drug markets, and the alienation of Inuit youth from mainstream socioeconomic lifestyles. Chapter references and relevant tables and figures