Southwest Key was established with the objective of developing community-based treatment programs for troubled youth as an alternative to institutionalization. In this country youth of color are over-represented in the juvenile justice system. Although youth of color make up only 32 percent of the total population, they account for over 58 percent of those institutionalized. We see this trend first hand through the many programs we operate across the United States. Latino and Latina youth, African American youth and young people from poor families make up the vast majority of our client population. As such, we have placed a significant emphasis on the importance of our staff reflecting the population we serve; currently people of color account for 88 percent of our entire staff. We believe our staff must not only understand the culture of the young people, their families, and their communities, but also be able to communicate in the language of that youth and their family. We have also developed program practices that build on the strengths of the cultures of the youth, as well as the communities from which our young people live. We believe youth belong at home with their families and are most effectively treated in their own communities. Accordingly, all of our programs place great emphasis on family and community involvement.