This document combines the findings of two projects for the purpose of making some overall observations about the state of religious youth work in the United States. The first project was a review of the literature on such programs. Research on the topic is rare, while a vast body of indirectly related research spans many disciplines and empirical as well as theoretical vantage points. The second project set out to describe the current landscape of Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish youth programs in the country. From the research it became apparent that: (1) religiosity seems to offer at least a degree of protection to youth against at-risk behavior; (2) current models of religious work do not reflect religious educators' concern for adolescents' integration into the total religious community; (3) religious youth programs now serve the young in more ways than ever, while fewer youths participate; (4) Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish youth programs have similar goals, assumptions, delivery systems, and educational processes; (5) no one knows how many youths are served by religious youth programs; (6) four out of five adult leaders of religious youth programs are volunteers; and (7) religious youth programs tend not to be accountable to anyone beyond local parent organizations. The groups, however, tend to share committed leadership, youth empowerment, cohesive national structures, a relationship intensive process, and other directedness. A 203-item reference list is attached. (SG)