Based on a literature survey (1965-70 publications) and personal interviews with southwestern Indian leaders, urban employers, and college teachers (recognized authorities on Indian problems), this research program was directed toward optimizing the benefits of youth projects for Navajo and Papago Indians and focused on factors related to social and occupational adjustment on reservations and in rural areas. Some factors influencing Navajo and Papago youth were their changing environment (social, cultural, economic, migratory); education (values, attitudes, aspirations, skills, etc.); on-reservation educational system (quality of schools, teachers, teacher-student relationships, curricula, etc.); and preparation for today's job market (on and off reservation). Findings revealed there are an "astounding" number of overlapping Federal and State programs aimed at helping American Indians, but American Indians have little to say about program policies or their mode of operation, and most of these programs have been unsuccessful in meeting American Indian needs. A basic problem was conflict between wanting to stay on reservation lands and finding these lands unable to support an increasing population, resulting in the adjustment problems of rural to urban migration. (JC)