The San Francisco-based YMCA Youth Chance began in 1978 as a Youth Community Conservation and Improvement "sweat program"--a means of providing unemployed high school dropouts with CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act)-funded jobs. Youth Chance continues to train males and females, 16-19 years of age, who meet CETA requirements. However, it also offers a comprehensive program in both worksite training and classroom education for which it maintains its own private high school. The educational component, now funded entirely by grants from Zellerbach Family Fund and San Francisco Foundation, is considered largely responsible for the program's success. It influences students' employability, academic goals, self image, and skills levels. While involved in the program, youth (1) work four hours per day, four days per week, at a site in their area of training; (2) attend classes four days a week for two hours; and (3) meet with counselors and participate in a job search. Crucial factors in program success, as indicated by high overall placement of youth who have failed consistently elsewhere, include comprehensiveness of program design, staff cooperation, individual attention for each participant, and a high caliber teacher staff. Reviews of four other San Francisco youth programs are appended to provide a range of approaches to youth employment which may be compared to methods and objectives of Youth Chance. (YLB)