IN RESPONSE TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION AND THE GROWING CONCERN OF PROFESSIONALS AND LAYMEN REGARDING THE PROBLEM OF STATUS OFFENDERS, OFFICIALS IN TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS, DEVELOPED A STATUS OFFENDER SECTION WITHIN THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT EARLY IN 1976. FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM WAS AN INNOVATIVE COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE COUNTY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, AND LEAA. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ARE CENTERED IN A MODERN EMERGENCY FACILITY FOR RUNAWAY, DEPENDENT, OR NEGLECTED CHILDREN. THE 16-BED, NONSECURE FACILITY, OPERATED AND STAFFED 24 HOURS A DAY, PROVIDES EMERGENCY RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR NONDELINQUENT CHILDREN FOR UP TO 30 DAYS. DURING A CHILD'S STAY, HE OR SHE RECEIVES COUNSELING, MEDICAL CARE, ACADEMIC CLASSWORK, AND A WARM ENVIRONMENT WHILE THE SOS STAFF DEVELOP MORE PERMANENT LIVING ARRANGEMENTS OR ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS TO FACILITATE THE CHILD'S RETURN HOME. DIRECT SERVICES BY SOS COUNSELORS, PURCHASED, AND REFERRAL SERVICES FROM COMMUNITY AND PRIVATE SOCIAL AGENCIES ARE UTILIZED. SOME OF THE METHODS AND PROGRAMS INVOLVED INCLUDE DIRECT CASEWORK, TUTORING, FOSTER HOMES, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL SERVICES. DURING 1976, 925 CHILDREN WERE REFERRED TO THE STATUS OFFENDER UNIT FOR TRUANTS AND RUNAWAYS. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AN OVERALL 9.2 PERCENT DECREASE WAS REALIZED IN THE NUMBER OF YOUTH REFERRED TO THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT FOR CRIMINAL OFFENSES. LOCAL AUTHORITIES ATTRIBUTE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THIS SIGNIFICANT DECREASE TO THE EARLY INTERVENTION OF THE STATUS OFFENDER PROGRAM IN THE PRECEDING YEAR. OTHER DATA ALSO SUPPORT THE CONCLUSION THAT THE SOS PROGRAM HAS PROVEN VERY SUCCESSFUL DURING ITS 3-YEAR EXISTENCE. FOOTNOTES, AN APPENDIX, AND CHARTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE ARTICLE. (LWM)