THE YOUTH BUREAU'S TASK IS TO DIVERT CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, FROM THE PREPETITION STAGE TO THE ADJUDICATION STAGE, WHILE HELPING JUVENILES COPE WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. THE YOUTH BUREAU PROVIDES FIELD SERVICE PROGRAMS WHICH COORDINATE SERVICES AMONG PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SERVICE AGENCIES, NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH CENTERS, WHICH PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES TO YOUTH AND FAMILIES, COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS FOR SHORT-TERM TREATMENT, A RUNAWAY SHELTER, AND CONTRACTUAL GROUP HOMES. IN ADDITION, REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCILS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED THROUGHOUT THE STATE. SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS INCLUDE A PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM, A TRACKING PROGRAM FOR MULTIPROBLEM CHILDREN, AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL PROGRAM, A VOLUNTEER TUTORIAL PROGRAM, A STAY IN SCHOOL PROGRAM, TRUANCY INTERVENTION WORKSHOP, AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. LEAA PROVIDED A $1.5 MILLION GRANT FOR THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS. BY NOVEMBER 1977, THE MONTHLY TOTAL OF INSTITUTIONALIZED STATUS OFFENDERS IS EXPECTED TO DECLINE FROM 210 TO ZERO, AND YOUTH BUREAU SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN ALL THE STATE'S COUNTIES. YOUTH BUREAU ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE ESTABLISHING MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES, STANDARDIZING PRESERVICE TRAINING OF STAFF, DEVELOPING LOCAL INTERAGENCY COUNCILS, AND ESTABLISHING FIELD SERVICE UNITS, GROUP HOMES, AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, THE BUREAU HAS ESTABLISHED STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES AND HAS PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO MODERNIZE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. A LIST OF YOUTH BUREAU UNITS, AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, A HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES, FORMS, TABLES, AND A DESCRIPTION OF DATA COLLECTED ON CLIENTS ARE INCLUDED.