Serving four counties in western North Carolina, the Women at Risk program is a gender-specific, community-based treatment program designed to serve women who are considered "at risk." "At risk" behaviors may be related but not limited to criminal behavior, family violence, substance abuse, histories of child abuse and neglect, and participation in family preservation programs that include possible removal of children from the home. The program is the community-based portion of a continuum of treatment services for female offenders and operates as the treatment component of broader probation or social service plans. The program has three major components. The first component is 16 weeks of group therapy with additional individual counseling as needed. The second component, case management, assists clients in developing the skills and support network they require to meet probation and social services requirements. Court advocacy, the third component, helps clients understand the legal process and the implications of decisions, in addition to providing a supportive presence in court. A woman can be referred to the program through the judicial system, other agencies, peers, and self-referral. At intake, a psycho-social history is completed in addition to a mental health and substance abuse evaluation. Based on the woman's needs, the case manager will work with the client initially on stabilization issues such as housing, employment, and substance abuse treatment, followed by initiation into the group therapeutic process. The duration of services and contacts averages 18 months. Clients can also come back to the program after they have completed activities. Ultimately, the program is designed to link the client with the community and foster the development of community-based support networks. The clients learn about community resources and how to access those resources effectively, thus increasing the likelihood for long-term success. In addition to being an alternative to custody for many women offenders, the program is also used for early intervention and prevention for juvenile girls and adult women whose behaviors have not yet brought them in contact with the criminal court system. Two case studies illustrate how the program works.