IN DEVELOPING A CONTINUING PROGRAM OF STAFF TRAINING, THE DEPARTMENT TOOK SIX STEPS: PREPARING MANAGEMENT AND STAFF TO PARTICIPATE; DETERMINING THE DEPARTMENT'S NEEDS AND PLANNING TRAINING PROGRAMS ACCORDINGLY; DETERMINING THE ABILITIES, SKILLS, NEEDS, POTENTIAL, AND DESIRES OF STAFF MEMBERS INVOLVED IN TRAINING; IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS THAT HELP STAFF MEMBERS DEVELOP THE NEEDED ATTRIBUTES; FOLLOWING THROUGH TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE NEW SKILLS ARE USED EFFECTIVELY; AND MAKING CERTAIN THAT DEPARTMENTAL MANAGERS ARE KEPT AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING. THE CORNERSTONE OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISION STAFF IS A CENTRAL TRAINING ACADEMY, ESTABLISHED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. NEW GROUP SUPERVISORS AND YOUTH COUNSELORS PARTICIPATE IN 2 WEEKS OF LIVE-IN TRAINING HERE, TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE REACTION TO EMERGENCIES, PREVENTIVE MEASURES, CHEMICAL AGENT TRAINING, ROOM AND BODY SEARCH, HUMAN RELATIONS, LEGAL RIGHTS OF THE CONFINED, DISCIPLINE, RADICAL GROUPS, REPORT WRITING, AND SELF-DEFENSE. INSERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS COVER SUCH SUBJECTS AS COUNSELING, CASEWORK, GROUP DYNAMICS, AND TREATMENT TECHNIQUES FOR CUSTODIAL/TREATMENT STAFF; OFFICE PROCEDURES FOR CLERICAL STAFF; CARE AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS AND USE OF MEDICAL AND DENTAL EQUIPMENT FOR MEDICAL STAFF; COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY FOR DATA-PROCESSING STAFF; AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND CONSULTANT TRAINING. THE NEED FOR MORE EXTENSIVE ORIENTATION AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS IS NOTED, AS ARE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING PROGRAMS (E.G., DELINEATION OF STANDARDS FOR ALL POSITIONS, CREATION OF A CLIMATE IN WHICH TRAINING PROGRAMS WILL FLOURISH, COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES, AND INCLUSION OF TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT BOTH THE DEPARTMENT AND INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS). THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY HAS FOUND THAT STAFF ENTHUSIASM AND PARTICIPATION HAVE GROWN AS EMPHASIS ON TRAINING HAS INCREASED. (LKM)