THE GOAL OF THE ALLEGAN/OTTAWA JUVENILE SERVICES TASK FORCE WAS TO ANALYZE IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM JUVENILE SERVICE NEEDS, PROBLEMS, RESOURCES, AND OPERATIONAL ALTERNATIVES AND PROVIDE A STRONG AND CREDIBLE BASIS FOR DECISIONS AND ACTIONS BY STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS. OBJECTIVES WERE TO ASSESS AGENCIES AND THEIR MANDATES FOR SERVICE, CAPACITY, AND CASELOAD; ASSESS THE POPULATION AT RISK, INCLUDING RUNAWAYS, SUBSTANCE ABUSERS, SCHOOL TRUANTS, ABUSED CHILDREN, AND ADJUDICATED YOUTH; EVALUATE DUPLICATION IN SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE TWO COUNTIES; ASCERTAIN GAPS IN SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE TWO COUNTIES; ASSESS BARRIERS AFFECTING SERVICE DELIVERY; DETERMINE WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTRACTING THESE SERVICES; AND PROJECT THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF IDENTIFIED NEEDS. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE ARE SUMMARIZED AS THEY PERTAIN TO CONTINUATION OF THE TASK FORCE, INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATION, RUNAWAY SERVICES, PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES, BIRTH CONTROL SERVICES, YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, THE CONSOLIDATION OF HOTLINES, RECREATION YOUTH INPUT, DATA COLLECTION AND RETRIEVAL, AND YOUTH SERVICE COORDINATING MODELS. DETAILED FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS BY COUNTY ARE PRESENTED, ALONG WITH CHECKLISTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS. THE IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE JUVENILE NEEDS ASSESSMENT ARE DISCUSSED. (DEP)