The acting chief probation officer in the county's probation department explains that the intercept program was initiated in 1973 and was expanded in 1977 to include 101 deputy probation officers at 78 locations. This larger system replaces the three juvenile receiving centers which handled all cases previously. The probation staff screen juveniles who have been brought in by police officers in an effort to divert qualified youths to private agencies or community organizations. In addition, counseling and referral services are offered to status offenders, home evaluations are made, and speaking engagements are accepted. The officer in charge of the police department's child protection section explains that the sexually exploited and abused child units need the cooperation of other agencies in handling the problems that confront them. An interagency advisory council on child abuse and neglect conducts discussions among agency heads and experts aimed at arranging cooperation, while a juvenile justice center panel of agency members meets daily to discuss the most effective means of handling individual cases. A table of contents is included.