AT THE INITIATION OF THE STUDY, NO FORMALIZED PROCEDURES EXISTED FOR (1) PROVIDING INFORMATION TO DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS AT THE TIME A REFERRAL WAS MADE, (2) FOLLOWUP ON A CHILD BY YOUTH SERVICES TO ASSESS HOW HE WAS DOING IN A PROGRAM, (3) RELATING INFORMATION BACK TO THE OFFICE OF YOUTH SERVICES ON YOUTH'S PROGRESSION IN A PROGRAM. BECAUSE OF THIS LACK OF FORMALIZED PROCEDURES THE DIVERSION SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING AT ITS OPTIMAL LEVEL. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT INCLUDED MORE FORMALIZED AND INSTITUTIONAL FORMAT FOR FOLLOWUP AND EVALUATION OF LEAA-GRANT PROJECTS THAT ACT AS DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS. THESE GRANTS SHOULD FOLLOWUP, AT MINIMUM, UNTIL AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AFTER THE CHILD HAS LEFT THE PROGRAM. THE FOLLOWUP SHOULD ASSESS IF A CHILD NEEDS ADDITIONAL SERVICES AS WELL AS THE LONG-TERM IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM. REFERRAL AND FOLLOWUP FORMS SHOULD BE USED TO PROVIDE BETTER INFORMATION FLOW. A TRIAL FORM WAS DEVELOPED AND IS PRESENTLY UTILIZED BY YOUTH SERVICES INTAKE, AND WILL BE SENT TO A PROJECT BY INTAKE UPON REFERRAL OF A CHILD TO A PROGRAM. THE REFERRAL PART OF THE FORM INCLUDES THE COUNSELOR'S ASSESSMENT OF PROBLEMS AND NEEDS OF THE CHILD. IT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE FEASIBILITY OF A TRACKING SYSTEM FOR THE WHOLE DIVERSION SYSTEM BE STUDIED SO THAT PLANNERS, PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITIES MIGHT BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO ASSESS THE TYPES OF SERVICES NEEDED FOR YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. SAMPLE FORMS ARE APPENDED. (MJW)