THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE MODELS USED, ISSUES RELATED TO THE CONTRACT, AND THE RATIONALE FOR THIS ACTIVITY. FOUR OF THE DEVELOPMENTS SHAPING THE DECISIONMAKING ARE: THE NEGATIVE FINDINGS OF RESEARCH AROUND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRADITIONAL PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE METHODS; PUBLIC PRESSURE TO CONTROL THE EXPANSION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS; THE NEED TO EXPERIMENT WITH NEW PROGRAMS IN PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE USING COMMUNITY AGENCIES; AND THE DESIRE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF FAMILY CARE TO THE WARD OR PROBATIONER. A LOOK AT WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE PROGRAM CONSIDERS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOUND PHILOSOPHIC FRAME OF REFERENCE BETWEEN THE MINISTRY AND THE FAMILY SERVICE AGENCIES, DEMONSTRATION OF THE WORKABILITY OF A PRIVATE AGENCY/GOVERNMENT AGENCY PARTNERSHIP, THE REDUCTION OF PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE CASELOADS, AND RECONGNITION OF THE NEED FOR INSERVICE TRAINING OF STAFF. IDENTIFIED AS PROBLEMS YET TO BE SOLVED ARE SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION, PROBATION OFFICER/OFFENDER MATCHING, AND THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM ON TRADITIONAL PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICES. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...ELW