The survey accounted for perspectives from professionals including educators, social workers, probation officers, and psychologists while the analytical perspectives included micro-level, interactive, and macro-level analyses that focus on issues of casuality, responsibility, and remediation. The sample population consisted of 500 participants at the 1988 National Conference on Transitional Services for Troubled Youth who were asked to rate the level of importance of transition priorities, direction of change related to transition, and training needs related to transition. Although the different professional groups differed in their priorities, the results suggest that successful transition of troubled youth from restrictive settings must involve changes in client-centered activities as well as changes on an institutional level. This paper recommends improving the quality and range of assessment and treatment services to develop more adequate placement options in the community. 5 tables, 5 references. (Author abstract modified)