The Clondalkin Partnership, Clondalkin Drugs Task Force, Youth Support and Training Unit and other agencies have identified a need in the area to support young people whose challenging and/or disruptive behaviours place them at risk of non-completion of schooling or training. A ten-year education plan (Clondalkin Partnership, 1999) and a study of school absenteeism (McSorley, 1997) highlighted the problems of young people at risk. Clondalkin Partnership’s Area Action Plan 2000-2006 includes ‘support for young people at risk of exclusion from school’ as one of its key community-based initiatives. The Education Working Group of Clondalkin Partnership established the Working Party on Young People exhibiting Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, to examine the possibility of providing a local area intervention for children in this category. The results of the research are presented in this report. Aims and objectives of the research The aim of this research is to provide a theoretical and practical grounding from which to develop an appropriate and effective intervention for young people exhibiting emotional and behavioural difficulties in Clondalkin. The authors use the acronym ‘EBD’ throughout this report to denote ‘Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties’ for ease of reading, while remaining conscious of the perils of such ‘shorthand’ references to a complex problem and the dangers of labelling. The objectives of the study are: · To investigate the nature and extent of existing services related to the target group · To develop a profile of the target group and establish needs · To identify a range of models of good practice at local, national and international level · To identify an appropriate model for work with young people exhibiting EBD in Clondalkin