NO SYSTEM OF JUVENILE COURTS EXISTS IN NORWAY; INSTEAD, THERE IS A CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE IN EVERY MUNICIPALITY. OUT OF A POPULATION OF NEARLY 4 MILLION, THE CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEES CARE FOR ABOUT 5,000 YOUTHS. AS ESTABLISHED BY THE CHILD WELFARE ACT OF 1953, THE COMMITTEES ARE BOUND TO COOPERATE WITH SUCH LOCAL AUTHORITIES AS SCHOOL, HEALTH, AND POLICE OFFICIALS. THIS REPORT IS AIMED AT THE ASSOCIATION OF NORWEGIAN CHILD WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE SPECIAL INSTITUTIONS AND SERVICES DEALING WITH YOUTHFUL CLIENTS. THE SOCIAL CARE ACT OF 1965 AND OTHER LEGISLATION PERTINENT TO CHILD WELFARE ARE EXAMINED. THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM IS ALSO EXPLAINED. THERE IS CLEARLY A NEED FOR MORE FORMAL COOPERATION AMONG CHILD CARE, SOCIAL, EMPLOYMENT, AND HEALTH SERVICES AND SCHOOL AUTHORITIES. THIS REPORT OFFERS NO SOLUTIONS, BUT POINTS TO SEVERAL EXPERIMENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE GENERAL TENDENCY OF THE LEGISLATION HAS BEEN TO DECENTRALIZE THE SYSTEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, LEAVING AS MUCH RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES SHOULD INCLUDE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO DRUG AND ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS AND THE GROWING INCIDENCE OF VIOLENCE AMONG THE YOUNG. MORE ATTENTION SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO OUTPATIENT TREATMENT, SPECIAL COUNSELING, AND ASSISTANCE TO THE CHILD AND FAMILY IN A FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS TO INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS FOSTER HOMES AND CARE THEREAFTER. THIS REPORT ALSO POINTS OUT THE NEED FOR MORE CHILD WELFARE EDUCATORS AND FOR SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL IN THE FIELD AS A WHOLE; THE TRAINING OF SUCH PERSONNEL IS TREATED. (JSP) TREATED. (JSP)