This monograph outlines early prevention efforts that can decrease the development of destructive behaviors in at-risk youth. The text provides those who work with young people the information they need to identify individuals with the highest potential for "at-riskness." Such care givers also need to understand the causal factors for at-risk behavior. Many of the chapters include case studies that explore prevention efforts from individual, family, school, and community perspectives. It is believed that persons working with youth must understand how to use prevention strategies in dealing with those who are most at risk. The book is divided into three parts. Part 1 gives information on population definition, identification, and behaviors and causal factors descriptive of youth at risk. Part 2 deals with parameters that often serve as casual factors for the development of at-risk behaviors, and includes chapters on the effects of a dysfunctional family, physical and sexual abuse, and other conditions. In Part 3, the behaviors most often identified as placing youth at risk are explored, along with discussions of eating disorders, pregnancy, AIDS, gang membership, substance abuse, homelessness, and understanding and preventing school drop out. Individual chapters contain references. (RJM)