Based in rural northern Orange County (North Carolina), the Adolescents-in-Need Project began in 1981 as a joint effort of the school district, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, and community agencies. Project goals focused on preventing untimely events in the lives of teenagers, and included helping adolescents to delay first or repeat pregnancy, complete their education, develop lifestyle and parenting skills, and secure safe nurturing living arrangements. Referrals were made on the basis of expressed concern and did not require explicit definition. From 1981 to 1988, the county pregnancy rate for 15- to 19-year-olds dropped from 6.2% to 4.2%, while the school dropout rate improved from 10.5% to 6.7%. Over 60% of the high-risk adolescents served by the project remained in school; among dropouts, 5% obtained a GED and 57% found productive employment. Major program strategies aimed at: (1) improving communication and negotiating conflicts between teens and their parents; (2) developing a close working relationship with the school system; (3) identifying community services and improving access to services for adolescents; (4) involving male partners of pregnant teens and teen mothers; (5) improving day care services for teen mothers attending school; (6) assisting teens to find employment; (7) assisting with transportation; (8) coordinating with special programs available to adolescents; and (9) providing one-on-one time and support to teen mothers and developing peer support groups. (SV)