THE RATIONALE, HISTORY, AND STATUS OF COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT CENTERS FOR JUVENILES IN FLORIDA ARE DISCUSSED. A LIST OF EXISTING PROJECTS, A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF TREATMENT APPROACHES, AND A SUMMARY OF INTAKE CRITERIA ARE PRESENTED FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF PROGRAMS: HALFWAY HOUSES, GROUP TREATMENT HOMES, SHORT-TERM ADOLESCENT REHABILITATIVE TREATMENT (START) CENTERS, TRAINING AND REHABILITATION FOR YOUTH (TRY) CENTERS, PROJECT SHORT-TERM ELECTIVE PROGRAM (STEP), AND ECKERD WILDNERNESS CAMPS. GUIDELINES ARE THEN PRESENTED RELATIVE TO THE FOLLOWING ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS: (1) CLIENT MANAGEMENT (ADMISSIONS, TREATMENT, REALITY THERAPY, DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DISCIPLINE AND PUNISHMENT, VISITORS, CLIENT RIGHTS, HOME VISITS, OTHER OPERATIONAL DETAILS); (2) EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY (INCLUDING PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT, STRATEGIES, PROCEDURES AND CURRICULUM, AND USE OF VOLUNTEERS); (3) POPULATION MOVEMENT (RUNAWAYS, USE OF SECURED DETENTION, PRE-FURLOUGH STUDIES, TRANSFERS, FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY, EMERGENCIES, WEAPONS, ETC.); AND (4) VOLUNTEER SERVICES (RATIONALE AND IMPLEMENTATION).