THE YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU OF SALEM, N.H., WAS INSTITUTED IN MAY 1977 IN RESPONSE TO A RAPIDLY ESCALATING JUVENILE OFFENSE RATE IN THE CITY. IT WAS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED NETWORK OF LOCAL HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES DIRECTED AT IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL JUVENILE OFFENDERS, PROVIDING EARLY INTERVENTION, AND DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVES TO THE TRADITIONAL PROCEDURES OF THE POLICE AND COURTS IN HANDLING JUVENILES. THE STAFF CONSISTS OF A DIRECTOR OF YOUTH SERVICES, A JUVENILE COUNSELOR, AND A SECRETARY/RECEPTIONIST. THE TARGET GROUP CONSISTS OF YOUTHS WHO HAVE CONTACTED THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM OR WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK OF DOING SO. THE BUREAU CONSISTS OF FOUR COMPONENTS: THE DIVERSION INTERVENTION TEAM, THE JUVENILE COUNSELING PROGRAM, INTENSIVE AND FAMILY PROBATION, AND THE FOSTER PARENT PROGRAM. BASED ON INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM AN IN-SCHOOL REFERRAL PROCESS IN WHICH TEACHERS SUBMIT DISCIPLINARY REPORTS TO GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, THE DIVERSION TEAM MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HELPING JUVENILES IDENTIFIED AS HIGH RISK. FOLLOWUP IS ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TEAM. DURING THE PERIOD JUNE 1, 1978, THROUGH AUGUST 31, 1978, THREE YOUTHS WERE REFERRED TO THE JUVENILE COUNSELING PROGRAM. THE JUVENILE COUNSELING PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE PREDISPOSITION COUNSELING AS ORDERED BY THE COURT, POSTDISPOSITION COUNSELING, PREHEARING EVALUATIONS, AND LONG-TERM SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING. THE FOSTER PARENT PROGRAM PROVIDES PLACEMENT FOR PERSONS IN NEED OF SUPERVISION. THE INTENSIVE AND FAMILY PROBATION COMPONENT AIMS AT EXPANDING THE EXISTING PROBATION SERVICES. STATISTICAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR THE OPERATION OF EACH OF THE PROJECT COMPONENTS. REMEDIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN TO CORRECT MINOR DEFICIENCIES INDICATED BY AN EVALUATION CONDUCTED IN MARCH 1978, AND THE GENERAL APPRAISAL OF THE PROGRAM IS POSITIVE. (RCB)