Prepared to help rural communities meet the needs of troubled and delinquent youth, this booklet describes exemplary programs implemented in nine rural areas. The introduction outlines the specific problems faced by rural communities and small towns in providing youth services, i.e., limited resources to focus on youth problems, greater distances between providers and consumers, and few opportunities for information exchange among professionals within a state or region. The selected programs illustrate innovative ways of delivering a variety of services including non-secure detention facilities for status offenders and other troubled youth, meaningful recreation and education for rural youth, counseling, crisis intervention, and support for the families of youthful offenders. Program descriptions provide a brief characterization of the community, the impetus for developing the youth program, and a picture of the youth served and the services provided. The programs described are Mountain Plains Youth Service Coalition, Pierre, SD; Foster Home Program, Hamilton, MT; Day and Residential Services for Youth, Opelousas, LA; Rural Transportation Program, Council Bluffs, IA; Alternative School, David, KY; Non-Secure Detention Facility, Marquette, MI; Drop-In Center, Jackson, WY; Family Partners Program, Decorah, IA; and Youth Specialist, Sterling, CO. (JH)