THIS PAPER IS DESIGNED TO SERVE AS A TRAINING AID FOR NEW STAFF MEMBERS AND TO HELP COURT AND CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL UNDERSTAND THE CENTER'S DECISIONMAKING PROCESSES. THE PROCESSES INVOLVE FOUR PHASES. THE FIRST IS THE GATHERING OF AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE JUVENILE'S MEDICAL PROBLEMS, SCHOOL PROBLEMS, OFFENSE HISTORY, AND FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND. CHARTS ILLUSTRATE THE COMPONENTS WHICH MAKE UP A TOTAL ASSESSMENT FOR EACH FACTOR. A QUESTIONNAIRE USED FOR THE FAMILY ASSESSMENT IS INCLUDED. DURING THE SECOND PHASE THE JUVENILE IS ASSIGNED TO ONE OF SIX SOCIAL LEARNING CATEGORIES. CHILDREN WITH SIMILAR PRIMARY SOCIAL LEARNING NEEDS ARE GROUPED TOGETHER IN COTTAGE TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND EFFORTS ARE MADE TO AVOID PLACING INCOMPATIBLE CHILDREN TOGETHER. A DESCRIPTION AND A LIST OF SYMPTOMATIC BEHAVIORS ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH BEHAVIOR PATTERN: ACTIVE PERSONAL INTERACTION, PASSIVE PERSONAL INTERACTION, LACK OF PERSONAL CONTROL, PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. AFTER AN ASSESSMENT IS MADE OF THE INTENSITY OF TREATMENT NEEDED (PHASE THREE), THE ACTUAL TREATMENT PLANNING AND PLACEMENT DECISION IS MADE (PHASE FOUR). CRITERIA ARE PRESENTED FOR EACH NONINSTITUTIONAL PLACEMENT ALTERNATIVE AND FOR EACH OF THE STATE JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. APPENDIXES INCLUDE THE CLIENT INFORMATION FORM AND THE COMPUTER CODES USED FOR BOTH OFFENSE DATA AND THE VARIOUS PLACEMENT ALTERNATIVES. (GLR)