At this time, significant obstacles -- lack of information, money, credentials, a professional identity, career ladders, and training funds -- face youth workers who want additional formal training and the skills, credentials, and prestige it brings. If alternative youth services are to continue to offer nonthreatening, flexible care, they cannot afford to be dominated by traditionally trained professionals. Runaway programs need to take special steps to enable their staff to cope with the intensity and stress of working with disturbed and untrusting youth and families without suffering burnout. Work with adolescents calls for disciplined staff who can be caring, available, and nonjudgmental while setting reasonable limits. Directors hope that training will be one way of helping committed youth workers to gain the skills and perspective they need and of helping those who have skills to develop the commitment that runaway programs require.