Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the ways in which the basic institutions of our society— 'family, school, and community'— act together to limit and mystify attempts at independence or change. It develops a new framework for looking at deviance and delinquency and at adults' projections of the basic social problems which youth pose for society. The book deals with the issues facing an alternate service in defining its program and developing a structure. It looks at two kinds of radical counseling services — crisis phone lines and an alternate counseling model. The book discusses the interaction of the alternate service with the community. The values of the community and the new service are somewhat in conflict, and yet the service depends on the outside world for survival and legitimacy.