YORK'S PROGRAM BEGAN IN 1975 AND WAS RENEWED IN 1976. IT HAD THE DUAL GOALS OF DEALING EFFECTIVELY WITH JUVENILE PROBLEM BEHAVIORS AND REDUCING STATE AND COUNTY COSTS BY PLACING THE YOUTHS IN FOSTER HOMES, GROUP HOMES, AND INSTITUTIONS. A BASIC ASSUMPTION OF THE PROGRAM WAS THAT THE FOCUS FOR CHANGE FOR MANY OF THESE YOUTHS SHOULD BE THE FAMILY. IT WAS FELT THAT DEVIANT BEHAVIOR OF A CHILD OFTEN RESULTS FROM STRESS WITHIN THE FAMILY. THEREFORE, THIS PROGRAM EMPHASIZED FAMILY THERAPY. A SAMPLE OF 64 YOUTHS NOT GIVEN FAMILY THERAPY SERVICES WAS COMPARED TO A SAMPLE OF 75 YOUTHS ADMINISTERED FAMILY THERAPY SERVICES. IT WAS FOUND OVER A 2-YEAR PERIOD THAT OVER $78,000 WAS SAVED BY THE PROJECT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CHILD WELFARE WORKERS CAN BE TRAINED TO SHIFT THEIR ROLE TOWARD CHANGING DISRUPTIVE RELATIONSHIP PATTERNS WITHIN FAMILIES OF STATUS-OFFENDER YOUTHS. A REDUCTION IN COSTS FOR CARE OF SUCH YOUNG PEOPLE CAN BE ACHIEVED BY INTERVENTION FOR CHANGE IN FAMILIES. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION WITH THE FAMILY ALSO APPEARS EFFECTIVE IN AVOIDING PLACEMENT OF THE YOUTH OUTSIDE HIS OWN HOME. TABLES AND LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MLC)