IT BEGINS WITH BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE 1974 JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT AND AN EXPLANATION OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STATUS OFFENDERS AND DELINQUENTS. PLANNING SUGGESTIONS TO AID STATES IN COMPLYING WITH THE FEDERAL MANDATE TO DEINSTITUTIONALIZE STATUS OFFENDERS ARE PRESENTED. THE SIX STAGES OF THE PLANNING PROCESS ARE DEFINED, AND THE USE OF CLIENT FLOW MODELING IS EXPLAINED. INSTRUCTIONS ARE PRESENTED FOR DEVELOPING GOAL STATEMENTS, CONDUCTING NEEDS ASSESSMENT, SETTING OBJECTIVES, AND DESIGNING PROGRAMS. OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE SELECTION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS, PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION. SAMPLE FORMS THAT A PLANNER MIGHT NEED AT VARIOUS STAGES IN THE PLANNING PROCESS ARE INCLUDED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE MILESTONE CHARTS AND ACTIVITY SHEETS TO USE AS GUIDES FOR EACH PLANNING STAGE. APPENDIXES PRESENT DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND ADDITIONAL DATA COLLECTION FORMS.