THE PURPOSE OF THE PAPER IS TO SUPPORT PLANNERS, GRANTMAKERS, PROGRAM OPERATORS, CONSULTANTS, TRAINERS, AND EVALUATORS IN DEVELOPING, DESIGNING, IMPLEMENTING, AND EVALUATING DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS. CONTEMPORARY THEORIES AND RESEARCH ON THE CAUSES OF DELINQUENCY ARE REVIEWED, AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR PREVENTION PROGRAMMING ARE DISCUSSED. THE REVIEW POINTS TO SELECTIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE, PARTICULARLY WITHIN SCHOOL, AS THE MOST PROMISING DIRECTION FOR PREVENTION PROGRAMMING. OPTIONS FOR ACHIEVING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE (PRIMARILY IN SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO IN WORK AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR YOUTHS) THAT WILL ALTER ORGANIZATIONAL CONTRIBUTORS TO DELINQUENCY AND STRENGTHEN ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORTS FOR LAW-ABIDING BEHAVIOR ARE EXAMINED IN DETAIL, AND PROGRAM FORMS ARE RECOMMENDED. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALSO PRESENTED FOR MORE CONVENTIONAL, SELF-CONTAINED PROGRAMS OF DIRECT SERVICES TO SELECTED POPULATIONS OF YOUTH. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS BASED ON SOUND PRINCIPLES AND THEORETICAL UNDERPINNINGS CAN PAVE THE WAY FOR ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE INITIATIVES, WHICH IN TURN CAN FACILITATE THE PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS. IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE IN THE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION CONTEXT ARE CONSIDERED. A SUMMARY AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. SEE NCJ-60361 FOR RELATED STATE PLANNING AGENCY GUIDELINES.