In 1998, Canada's Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) conducted case studies of two work-based training and skill development programs for street youth in Vancouver, British Columbia. The BladeRunners program places youth on construction sites while encouraging them to work toward an apprenticeship in the building trades. The Picasso Cafe program provides a place for young people to train and earn college credits in food preparation or food service. Because of its limited resources, the case study was qualitative and focused on lessons learned rather than on long-term tracking of participants' outcomes. Data were collected through focus groups and interviews with participants; observations of intake interviews; observation of meetings and training sessions; observations of participants' on-the-job activities; individual interviews with program staff, employers, and community supports; and reviews of program records and files. The study documented that BladeRunners provides an important second chance for some carefully selected disadvantaged young people, helping many participants start down the path to steady employment and earnings. Despite the promising characteristics that led SRDC to choose Picasso Cafe as a case study site, the cafe underwent several destabilizing changes that made evaluating it difficult. (The case study methodology and data sources are appended. The bibliography lists 43 references.) (MN)