IN MARCH 1979 JUDGES, COUNSELORS, PROBATION OFFICERS, A FAMILY THERAPIST, A JUVENILE JUSTICE SPECIALIST, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS MET TO DISCUSS THE ISSUES CONCERNING TROUBLED YOUTH. THE SEMINAR WAS GENERATED BY A NUMBER OF FACTORS INCLUDING NATIONAL INTEREST IN THESE ISSUES, THE INCREASED COST OF TRADITIONAL TREATMENT FORMS, THE LIMITED EVIDENCE OF THE SUCCESS OF WORK WITH FAMILIES OF TROUBLED YOUTH, AND THE GROWING CONCERN OF PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN. QUESTIONS CONSIDERED INVOLVED THE POSSIBLE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAMILIES AND TROUBLED YOUTH; WHY THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES FOCUS ON THE CHILD, NOT ON THE FAMILY; AND WHETHER SOCIETY SHOULD ENTRUST THE COURT WITH DECISIONS AFFECTING FAMILIES. ALSO CONSIDERED WERE THE TOPICS OF COURT AUTHORITY OVER THE PARENTS OF COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH, WHAT CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE FAMILY WORK, AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE KEY POINTS OF INTERVENTION. ALL GROUP MEMBERS MADE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH GENERALLY FELL INTO THE CATEGORIES OF POSSIBLE EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS AND PUBLIC POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND INITIATIVES. IN THE FORMER CATEGORY, ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING PROGRAMS DOING FAMILY WORK, AN OUTWARD BOUND PROGRAM FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A JUVENILE JUSTICE NEWSLETTER TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS WERE SUGGESTED. REGARDING PUBLIC POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND INITIATIVES, IT WAS STATED THAT FUNDING AGENCIES MUST ACCEPT THE FACT THAT CASELOADS WILL BE SMALL WHEN WORKING WITH FAMILIES, THAT PROBATION REPORTS TO JUDGES SHOULD INCLUDE DIAGNOSTIC ATTENTION TO FAMILIES, AND THAT AGENCIES MUST ENSURE THAT STAFFS RECEIVE ADEQUATE TRAINING IN FAMILY WORK. AN APPENDIX IS INCLUDED IN THE SEMINAR PUBLICATION. (LWM)