THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO TEST WHETHER OR NOT YOUTH WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN CONSIDERED INCORRIGIBLE AND UNTREATABLE CAN BENEFIT FROM A SECURE, INTENSIVE, LONG-TERM TREATMENT SETTING, WITH LOW STAFF-STUDENT RATIO. THE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM, THE BACKBONE OF THE PROJECT, IS BASICALLY A POINT AND LEVEL SYSTEM. POINTS ARE GIVEN THREE TIMES A DAY IN SEVEN AREAS WHICH MEASURE THE MAJOR DIFFICULT AREAS FOR THE RESIDENTS (E.G., RELATIONSHIP WITH ADULTS, RELATIONSHIP WITH PEERS, CONFORMING TO NORMS, ETC.). THERE ARE NO NEGATIVE POINTS GIVEN, AND REINFORCEMENTS FOR POINTS ARE GENERALLY INCREASED PRIVILEGES. MOVEMENT TO VARIOUS LEVELS IS DETERMINED BY ACQUISITION OF POINTS AND THERAPY GROUP APPROVAL. IN GENERAL, THE 'LEVELS' FOLLOW A DEVELOPMENTAL SEQUENCE SO THAT THE STUDENTS PERCEIVE THAT IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR EARNS INCREASED ADULT CONTROL, WHILE RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR EARNS INCREASED CONTROL BY SELF AND PEERS. GUIDED INTERACTION THERAPY, ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM, IS BASICALLY AN INTENSIVE GROUP THERAPY APPROACH WITH EMPHASIS ON USE OF POSITIVE PEER PRESSURE. THESE GROUPS MEET DAILY FOR AT LEAST 1.5 HOURS. THE THERAPIST HELPS THE GROUP TO SET THE AGENDA AND DOES A 15-MINUTE SUMMATION AT THE END. OTHER FACETS OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE AN INDIVIDUALIZED SCHOOL PROGRAM, INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, FAMILY THERAPY, PSYCHODRAMA, RECREATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS. PRELIMINARY DATA GENERATED DURING THE FIRST 18 MONTHS OF THE PROJECT ON 34 CLIENTS INDICATE IMPRESSIVE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR ON THE UNIT AND ARE SUGGESTIVE OF SUCCESS WHEN THE YOUTH ARE RETURNED TO THE COMMUNITY.