THE FORMULA GRANT PROGRAM HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED BY THESE AMENDMENTS AND A NUMBER OF NEW RESEARCH AND PROGRAM PRIORITIES HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. THE FORMULA GRANT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT DELINQUENCY, TO DIVERT JUVENILES FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVES TO JUVENILE DETENTION AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, AND TO ENCOURAGE A DIVERSITY OF ALTERNATIVES WITHIN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE AMENDMENTS STRESS PRIORITY AREAS INCLUDING EXPANDED SCOPE OF PREVENTIVE PROGRAMMING TO INCLUDE ALL YOUTHS WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM SUCH PROGRAMMING; AN EMPHASIS ON INCREASED DIVERSITY OF ALTERNATIES WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM INCLUDING YOUTH ADVOCACY PROGRAMS, 24-HOUR INTAKE SCREENING, VOLUNTEER AND CRISIS HOME PROGRAMS, DAY TREATMENT, AND HOME PROBATION; AND A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON DISCRETIONARY GRANTS FOR PROGRAMS PERTAINING TO ADVOCACY FOR YOUTH, IMPROVED DUE PROCESS STANDARDS, LEGISLATIVE CHANGE, AND RESEARCH INTO FACTORS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND TREATMENT STRATEGIES. MAJOR AREAS OF CHANGE PROPOSED FOR THE REVISION OF THE STATE PLANNING AGENCY GRANTS GUIDELINE MANUAL INVOLVE THE USE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE FORMULA GRANT FUNDS FOR PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES, FORMULA GRANT MATCHING FUNDS, GRANT PASS-THROUGH REQUIREMENTS ON THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS AND DEPENDENT/NEGLECTED CHILDREN, PROVISION FOR PROGRAM RECORD CONFIDENTIALITY, AND THE ROLE OF THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION IN FORMULA GRANT DEVELOPMENT AND PLAN REVEIW AND APPROVAL. DEFINITIONS RELATING TO SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN FUNDING UNDER THE 1974 ACT ARE LISTED. FOR THE ORIGINAL ACT, SEE NCJ-25359. (JAP)