THE MANUAL'S MAIN GOAL IS TO HELP YOUTH ADVOCATES UNDERSTAND THE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY TITLE XX, AS WELL AS THE OPERATING AND PLANNING REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES INVOLVED FOR PARTICIPATION. TITLE XX, PASSED IN 1975, SUPPORTS A DECENTRALIZED PROGRAM OF FEDERALLY SUPPORTED SOCIAL SERVICES. SERVICES INCLUDE ADOPTION, COMPANIONSHIP, DAY CARE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AND MANY OTHERS. TO PARTICIPATE, EACH STATE MUST PREPARE A COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL SERVICES PLAN (CASP). PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, AGENCIES, AND INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE LAW BOTH TO HELP DEVELOP THE PLAN AND TO PROVIDE PLANNED SERVICES. THE MANUAL DESCRIBES THE PHILOSOPHY AND DEVELOPMENT OF TITLE XX, ITS REQUIREMENTS, EXAMPLES OF ITS USE IN FUNDING CHILDREN-AND YOUTH-ORIENTED SERVICES PROGRAMS, AND SUGGESTED STEPS FOR ACTION AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. OPERATING REQUIREMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, INCLUDE ASSESSING NEEDS, DEFINING CLIENT ELIGIBILITY, IDENTIFYING PROGRAM GOALS, DESCRIBING SERVICES AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES, SPECIFYING RESOURCES, AND MEETING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. INDIVIDUALS OR PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AGENCIES ARE URGED TO ACT NOW TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE DECISIONS REGARDING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. EXTENSIVE APPENDIXES PRESENT SOCIAL SERVICES DEFINITIONS, ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, NUMEROUS FORMS PROPOSED TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS, AND A CASE EXAMPLE OF A STATE CASP USING FICTITIOUS DATA. REQUIREMENTS CITED ARE PROPOSED REGULATIONS; SOME OF THEIR PROVISIONS MAY BE CHANGED WHEN THE FINAL REGULATIONS ARE ADOPTED. (CFW)