While violent crime among youth has not reached the epic proportions in Maine that it has elsewhere, there are signs that some youths are already involved in a cycle of violence and many others are at risk. The Maine Bureau of Health convened an interdepartmental work group to study youth violence in 1993 culminating in Part 1 of a two-part report. This report represents specific recommendations to reduce the incidence and impact of youth violence in Maine. The work group operated by establishing four subcommittees with each subcommittee formulating specific recommendations. These recommendations, which include a call for increased interdepartmental coordination and planning of prevention and early intervention programs, coordination of data collection, and public education, are detailed. The unified strategy for legislative action which was developed was: "Establish the Prevention of Youth Violence Work Group as a permanent subcommittee of the Interdepartmental Council (IDC) with responsibility to coordinate all activities related to prevention and intervention in interpersonal youth violence." Six responsibilities of the group are given as well as membership recommendations. (JBJ)