This article discusses early intervention models, professional practice, and work place environments in implementing strategies at the "coalface," meaning for those doing the hands-on work with youth. The objective of this paper was to consider the nature of risk factor analysis and protective factor analysis in understanding and responding to social problems. It outlines recent thinking in criminology as pathways to prevention and young people as multiple service users. It then provides a brief evaluation and critique of approaches that emphasize multifactoral explanations of youth deviancy, health, and well being. The role of youth and community workers in community-based early intervention strategies is examined, and the paper then discusses the influence of the workplace conditions and environments on worker capacities to effect change. In conclusion, it is noted that a lack of political will to engage in the fundamental social change needed to bring about social equality and structural change to provide support to practitioners is the central problem for service providers in Australia today. A list of references is provided.