THE PROGRAM AREAS COVERED ARE: EMERGENCY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, INTAKE AND SERVICE CHOICE, INHOME SERVICES, FOSTER FAMILY CARE, ADOPTION SERVICES, RESIDENTIAL GROUP CARE, AND CASE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION. EACH SECTION CONTAINS A SELF-ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST WHICH WAS FIELD-TESTED IN 17 AGENCIES IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN AREAS. THESE CHECKLISTS ARE FOLLOWED BY A SECTION CALLED RESEARCH FINDINGS, WHICH PRESENTS INFORMATION FROM THE LITERATURE AND DESCRIBES EXEMPLARY PROGRAMS. NAMES AND ADDRESSES ARE GIVEN FOR RESOURCE AGENCIES. EACH SECTION THEN CLOSES WITH AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY. THE EMERGENCY SERVICES SECTION EMPHASIZES CHILD ABUSE AND JUVENILE DEPENDENCY AND NEGLECT PROCEDURES. THE SECTION ON INTAKE AND SERVICE CHOICE DISCUSSES COURT APPEARANCES. THE SECTIONS ON RESIDENTIAL GROUP CARE AND ON CASE MANAGEMENT HAVE ITEMS PERTAINING TO PREDELINQUENT OR DELINQUENT YOUTH. THE DISCUSSIONS ALSO CONTAIN INFORMATION ON INTERACTING WITH POLICE, COURTS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES. (GLR)