As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 4, 1998
                          Registration No. 333-_______
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                 ---------------


                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      Under
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                 ---------------


                       YOUTH SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                 ---------------


               Maryland                                   52-1715690
    (State or other jurisdiction of                    (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)                    Identification No.)
                                 ---------------

                         2 Park Center Court, Suite 200
                          Owings Mills, Maryland 21117
                                 (410) 356-8600
   (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                    registrant's principal executive office)
                                 ---------------
                         Amendment No. 1 To and Restated
       Youth Services International, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)
                                 ---------------


         Mark S. Demilio, Esquire                 William Taylor, IV, Esquire
    Youth Services International, Inc.              Piper & Marbury L.L.P.
      2 Park Center Court, Suite 200                36 South Charles Street
       Owings Mills, Maryland 21117                Baltimore, Maryland 21201
              (410) 356-8600                            (410) 576-1876
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agents for service)
                                 ---------------


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         
                                           Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum
  Title of Securities       Amount to be    Offering Price        Aggregate            Amount of
   to be Registered          Registered      Per Share(a)     Offering Price(a)   Registration Fee(a)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share   500,000 shares    $14.938           $7,469,000              $2,264
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


(a)   Pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h)(1),  the proposed  maximum offering price
      per  share,  proposed  maximum  aggregate  offering  price  and  amount of
      registration  fee are based upon the average of the high and low prices of
      the  Common  Stock of the  registrant  on the  Nasdaq  National  Market on
      February 25, 1998.




                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         The   following   documents   have   been   filed  by  Youth   Services
International,  Inc. (the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and are incorporated herein by reference: (a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
transition  period ended December 31, 1996;  (b) Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q
for the quarters ended March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997; (c)
Current  Reports on Form 8-K dated  February 19, 1997, May 12, 1997 and July 22,
1997;  and (d) the  description of the Company's  Common Stock  contained in the
section  titled  "Description  of Capital Stock" in the  Preliminary  Prospectus
included as part of the Company's  Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (Reg. No.
33-71958)  as filed with the  Commission  on November  19,  1993 and  thereafter
amended and incorporated by reference in the Company's Registration Statement on
Form 8-A filed with the  Commission  pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act,
and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

         All documents filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections 13(a),  13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the  Exchange  Act  subsequent  to the date of this  Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective  amendment which indicates
that all securities  offered have been sold or which  deregisters all securities
remaining  unsold  shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by  reference  into this
Registration  Statement  and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.  Any statement  contained in a document  incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated  by reference  herein shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded
for  purposes  of this  Registration  Statement  to the extent  that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein  modifies or  supersedes  such
statement.  The documents  required to be so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed,  except as so  modified  or  superseded,  to  constitute  a part of this
Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.  Description of Securities.

         Not required.

ITEM 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

         Not required.




ITEM 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         As permitted by the Maryland General  Corporation Law, Article SEVENTH,
paragraph  (h)  of  the  Company's  Charter,  provides  for  indemnification  of
directors and officers as follows:

                  To  the  maximum  extent  permitted  by the  Maryland  General
         Corporation  Law, as from time to time amended,  the Corporation  shall
         indemnify its currently acting and its former directors against any and
         all liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with their services
         in such capacities, shall indemnify its currently acting and its former
         officers to the full extent that  indemnification  shall be provided to
         directors,  and may  indemnify its employees and agents and persons who
         serve and have served, at its request as a director,  officer, partner,
         trustee, employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership,  joint
         venture  or  other  enterprise  as may be  determined  by the  Board of
         Directors.  The  Corporation  shall,  also to the same extent,  advance
         expenses to its directors,  officers and other persons, if any, and may
         by  Bylaw,   resolution  or  agreement   make  further   provision  for
         indemnification  of  directors,  officers,  employees  and  agents.  No
         amendment or repeal of this paragraph, or the adoption of any provision
         of the Corporation's  Charter  inconsistent with this paragraph,  shall
         apply to or affect in any respect the  indemnification  of any director
         or officer  of the  Corporation  with  respect  to any  alleged  act or
         omission which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

         The Company's By-Laws provide  indemnification rights equivalent to the
rights provided in the Company's Charter.  The Maryland General  Corporation Law
permits a  corporation  to indemnify its  directors,  officers and certain other
parties against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses
actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be
made a party by reason of their service to or at the request of the corporation,
unless it is established  that (i) the act or omission of the indemnified  party
was material to the matter giving rise to the  proceeding  and (x) was committed
in bad faith or (y) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) the
indemnified  party  actually  received  an improper  personal  benefit in money,
property  or  services  or  (iii) in the case of any  criminal  proceeding,  the
indemnified  party had reasonable  cause to believe that the act or omission was
unlawful.  Indemnification  may be made  against  judgments,  penalties,  fines,
settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by the director or officer
in connection with the proceeding;  provided, however, that if the proceeding is
one by or in the right of the corporation,  indemnification may not be made with
respect to any  proceeding in which the director or officer has been adjudged to
be liable to the  corporation.  The termination of any proceeding by conviction,
or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or an entry of any order of
probation prior to judgment,  creates a rebuttable presumption that the director
or  officer  did not  meet  the  requisite  standard  of  conduct  required  for
indemnification to be permitted.

         The  Company's  Charter  provides  that,  to the  maximum  extent  that
limitations  on the  liability  of directors  and officers are  permitted by the



Maryland General  Corporation Law, as from time to time amended,  no director or
officer  of  the  Company  shall  have  any  liability  to  the  Company  or its
stockholders for money damages.  The Maryland  General  Corporation Law provides
that a  corporation's  charter may include a provision which restricts or limits
the  liability  of  its  directors  or  officers  to  the   corporation  or  its
stockholders for money damages except:  (i) to the extent that it is proved that
the person actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or
services, for the amount of the benefit or profit in money, property or services
actually  received,  or  (ii) to the  extent  that a  judgment  or  other  final
adjudication adverse to the person is entered in a proceeding based on a finding
in the proceeding that the person's action, or failure to act, was the result of
active  and  deliberate  dishonesty  and was  material  to the  cause of  action
adjudicated in the proceeding.  This provision does not limit the ability of the
Company or its  stockholders  to obtain other  relief,  such as an injunction or
recission.

         As permitted under section 2-418(k) of the Maryland General Corporation
Law, the Company currently  maintains  director and officer liability  insurance
coverage on behalf of its directors and officers against any liability  asserted
against such  directors and officers in their  capacity as such,  whether or not
the Company would have the power to indemnify  such persons under the provisions
of Maryland law governing indemnification.

ITEM 7.  Exemption From Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  Exhibits.

         Exhibit
         Number Description
         5      Opinion of Piper & Marbury L.L.P. (contains Consent of Counsel).
         10     Amendment No. 1 to and Restated 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan.
         23.1   Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5).
         23.2   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants.

ITEM 9.  Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

          (i)  to  include  any  prospectus  required  by  section  10(a)(3)  of
               Securities Act of 1933;

          (ii) to reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising after
               the  effective  date of the  registration  statement (or the most
               recent post-effective  amendment thereof) which,  individually or
               in  the  aggregate,   represent  a  fundamental   change  in  the
               information set forth in the registration statement;




          (iii)to include any material  information  with respect to the plan of
               distribution   not  previously   disclosed  in  the  registration
               statement  or any  material  change  to such  information  in the
               registration statement.

         (2) That,  for the  purpose  of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective  amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

         The  undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes  that, for purposes of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to section  13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  (and,  where  applicable,  each  filing of an
employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to  section  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934)  that is  incorporated  by  reference  in the
registration  statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new  registration  statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the Securities Act of
1933 may be permitted to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration



statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in  Baltimore  County,  the  State of  Maryland  on this 6th day of
February, 1998.


                                         YOUTH SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                         By:/s/ Timothy P. Cole
                                              Timothy P. Cole
                                              Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
                                                 and President

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.


/s/ Timothy P. Cole         Chairman, Chief Executive           February 6, 1998
Timothy P. Cole             Officer and President (Principal
                            Executive Officer)


/s/ William P. Mooney       Chief Financial Officer and         February 6, 1998
William P. Mooney           Treasurer (Principal Financial
                            and Accounting Officer)


/s/ Alan J. Andreini        Director                            February 6, 1998
Alan J. Andreini


/s/ James A. Flick, Jr.     Director                            February 6, 1998
James A. Flick, Jr.


/s/ Lenneal J. Henderson    Director                            February 6, 1998
Lenneal J. Henderson, Ph.D.


/s/ Bobbie L. Huskey        Director                            February 6, 1998
Bobbie L. Huskey


/s/ Janet Langhart          Director                            February 6, 1998
Janet Langhart


/s/ Jacques T. Schlenger    Director                            February 6, 1998
Jacques T. Schlenger, Esq.




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
   Exhibit
   Number     Description
   5          Opinion of Piper & Marbury L.L.P. (contains Consent of Counsel).
   10         Amendment No. 1 to and Restated 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan.
   23.1       Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5).
   23.2       Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants.



                                                                       Exhibit 5

                                 PIPER & MARBURY
                                     L.L.P.
                              CHARLES CENTER SOUTH
                             36 SOUTH CHARLES STREET
                         BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21201-3018
                                  410-539-2530
                               FAX: 410-539-0489                   WASHINGTON
                                                                    NEW YORK
                                                                  PHILADELPHIA
                                                                     EASTON


                                  March 4, 1998

Youth Services International, Inc.
2 Park Center Court, Suite 200
Owings Mills, Maryland 21117

                       Registration Statement on Form S-8

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as  counsel  to Youth  Services  International,  Inc.,  a
Maryland corporation (the "Company"),  in connection with the registration under
the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),  pursuant to a Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of the Company (the  "Registration  Statement") filed with
the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission"),  of up to 500,000
shares of common stock,  par value $.01 per share, of the Company (the "Shares")
to be issued  pursuant to the  Amendment  No. 1 to and Restated  Youth  Services
International, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").

         In our  capacity  as  counsel  to the  Company,  we have  examined  the
Registration  Statement,  the Charter and By-Laws of the Company, as amended and
restated and in effect on the date  hereof,  minutes of the  proceedings  of the
Company's  Board  of  Directors  authorizing  the  issuance  of the  Shares  and
authorizing the Plan, and such other documents as we have considered  necessary.
We have also  examined an Officer's  Certificate  of the Company  dated the date
hereof  (the  "Certificate").  In such  examination,  we have  assumed,  without
independent investigation, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity
of all  individuals  who  have  executed  any of the  aforesaid  documents,  the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals,  the conformity with
originals of all documents  submitted to us as copies (and the  authenticity  of
the originals of such copies), and that all public records reviewed are accurate
and complete.  As to factual  matters we have relied on the Certificate and have
not independently verified the matters stated therein.

         Based   upon  the   foregoing   and   having   regard  for  such  legal
considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion and so advise you that



upon the issuance and  delivery of the Shares in  accordance  with the terms set
forth in the Plan,  the Shares  will have been duly and validly  authorized  and
will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

         We hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration  Statement.  In giving our consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are in the category of persons whose consent is required  under Section 7 of the
Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.


                                            Very truly yours,


                                            /s/ Piper & Marbury L.L.P.



                                                                      Exhibit 10











                       YOUTH SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.



                                  1997 EMPLOYEE


                               AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                                  AND RESTATED

                                STOCK OPTION PLAN




                               -------------------





                               AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
                                  AND RESTATED

                       YOUTH SERVICES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                         1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN


         1. Purpose

         The  proper  execution  of  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  the
executives  and key  employees  of Youth  Services  International,  Inc. and its
subsidiaries  is a vital  factor in the  continued  growth  and  success  of the
Corporation.  Toward this end, it is necessary  to attract and retain  effective
and capable  individuals to assume  positions that contribute  materially to the
successful  operation  of the business of the  Corporation.  It will benefit the
Corporation,  therefore,  to bind the interests of these persons more closely to
its own  interests  by  offering  them an  attractive  opportunity  to acquire a
proprietary  interest in the  Corporation  and thereby  provide  them with added
incentive  to remain in the  service  of the  Corporation  and to  increase  the
prosperity,  growth, and earnings of the Corporation.  This stock option plan is
intended to serve these purposes.

         2. Definitions

         The  following  terms  wherever used herein shall have the meanings set
forth below.

         (a) The term "Board of Directors"  shall mean the Board of Directors of
the Corporation.

         (b) The term "Code"  shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as
amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

         (c) The term "Committee"  shall mean the Compensation  Committee of the
Board of Directors or any other  committee  appointed by the Board of Directors,
which  committee  shall  consist  solely of two or more of those  members of the
Board  of  Directors  who are  Non-Employee  Directors  within  the  meaning  of
Rule16b-3  promulgated under the Exchange Act, as it may be amended from time to
time.

         (d) The term "Common Stock" shall mean the shares of common stock,  par
value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.

         (e) The term  "Corporation"  shall mean Youth  Services  International,
Inc.

         (f) The term "Exchange  Act" shall mean the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.




         (g) The term  "Fair  Market  Value" of a share of Common  Stock for any
given date shall mean the closing  price of the Common  Stock as reported on the
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ) National
Market  System (or if not traded on such  system,  as reported  by any  national
stock  exchange  on  which  the  Common  Stock is  traded)  on the  trading  day
immediately preceding such date.

         (h) The term  "Incentive  Stock Option"  shall mean any Option  granted
pursuant to the Plan that is designated  as an Incentive  Stock Option and which
satisfies the requirements of Section 422(b) of the Code.

         (i) The term "Nonqualified  Stock Option" shall mean any Option granted
pursuant to the Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

         (j) The term  "Option"  or "Stock  Option"  shall mean a right  granted
pursuant to the Plan to purchase  shares of Common Stock,  and shall include the
terms Incentive Stock Option and Nonqualified Stock Option.

         (k) The  term  "Option  Agreement"  shall  mean the  written  agreement
representing Options granted pursuant to the Plan as contemplated by Paragraph 7
of the Plan.

         (l) The term "Plan" shall mean this Youth Services International,  Inc.
1997  Employee  Stock  Option  Plan as  approved  by the Board of  Directors  on
September 8, 1996 and adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation at the 1996
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as the same may be amended from time to time.

         (m) The term "subsidiary" or "subsidiaries" shall mean a corporation of
which capital stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of
all classes of its capital stock  entitled to vote  generally in the election of
directors is owned in the  aggregate by the  Corporation  directly or indirectly
through one or more subsidiaries.

         3. Effective Date of the Plan

         The Plan shall become  effective upon  stockholder  approval,  provided
that such  approval is received on or before  September  8, 1997,  and  provided
further that the Board of Directors may grant Options pursuant to the Plan prior
to  stockholder  approval  if such  Options by their terms are  contingent  upon
subsequent stockholder approval of the Plan.

         4. Administration

         (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.

         (b) The Committee may establish,  from time to time and at any time, in
its sole and absolute discretion,  but subject to the limitations of the Plan as



set forth herein,  such rules and  regulations  and amendments  and  supplements
thereto,  as it deems necessary to comply with applicable law and regulation and
for the proper  administration  of the Plan.  A majority  of the  members of the
Committee  shall  constitute a quorum.  The vote of a majority of a quorum shall
constitute action by the Committee.

         (c) The  Committee  may grant  options  under the Plan, in its sole and
absolute discretion, and shall determine the numbers of shares for which Options
should be  granted  to each such  person  and the  nature of the  Options  to be
granted.

         (d) Options  granted by the  Corporation  shall be evidenced by a Stock
Option Certificate.

         (e) The Committee's  interpretation  and construction of the provisions
of the Plan and the rules and  regulations  adopted  by the  Committee  shall be
final.  No  member of the  Committee  shall be liable  for any  action  taken or
determination made, in respect of the Plan, in good faith.

         5. Participation in the Plan

         (a)  Participation  in the Plan shall be limited to the  executives and
key employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries who shall be designated by
the Committee.

         (b) No member of the  Committee and no member of the Board of Directors
who is not also an officer of the  Corporation  shall be eligible to participate
in the Plan.

         6. Stock Subject to the Plan

         (a) There shall be reserved for the granting of Options pursuant to the
Plan and for  issuance and sale  pursuant to such Options Five Hundred  Thousand
(500,000)  shares of Common  Stock.  To determine the number of shares of Common
Stock  available  at any time for the  granting of Options,  the total number of
reserved  shares of Common  Stock  shall be  reduced  by the number of shares of
Common  Stock with respect to which  Options  have been granted  pursuant to the
Plan that are still  outstanding  or have been  exercised.  The shares of Common
Stock to be issued  upon the  exercise of Options  granted  pursuant to the Plan
shall be made available from the authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock.
If for any reason  shares of Common Stock as to which an Option has been granted
cease to be subject to purchase  thereunder,  then such  shares of Common  Stock
again  shall be  available  for  issuance  pursuant  to the  exercise of Options
pursuant to the Plan.  Except as provided in  subparagraph  6(c),  however,  the
aggregate  number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon the exercise
of  Options  granted  pursuant  to the Plan to any single  individual  shall not
exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand (150,000) shares.

         (b)  Proceeds  from the  purchase  of shares of Common  Stock  upon the
exercise of Options  granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be used for the general
business purposes of the Corporation.




         (c) In the  event of  reorganization,  recapitalization,  stock  split,
stock dividend,  combination of shares of Common Stock,  merger,  consolidation,
share  exchange,  acquisition of property or stock, or any change in the capital
structure of the  Corporation,  the Committee shall make such adjustments as may
be  appropriate  in the  number  and kind of shares  reserved  for  purchase  by
executives  or other  key  employees,  in the  number,  kind and price of shares
covered by Options granted  pursuant to the Plan but not then exercised,  and in
the  number  of  Rights,  if any,  granted  pursuant  to the  Plan  but not then
exercised.

         7. Terms and Conditions of Options

         (a) Each Option  granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be  evidenced by a
Stock Option  Certificate  in such form as the  Committee  from time to time may
determine.

         (b) The exercise price per share for Options shall be equal to the Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the Options.

         (c) Each  Option,  subject  to the other  limitations  set forth in the
Plan,  may  extend  for a period of up to 10 years  from the date on which it is
granted.  The term of each Option shall be  established  by the Committee at the
time of grant of the  Option,  provided  that if no term is  established  by the
Committee  the term of the Option shall be 10 years from the date on which it is
granted.

         (d) The Committee may provide in the Stock Option  Certificate that the
right to exercise  each  Option for the number of shares  subject to each Option
shall vest in the Option  holder over such period of time as the  Committee,  in
its discretion, shall determine for each Option holder.

         (e) The Committee  may, in its  discretion,  provide that an Option may
not be exercised in whole or in part for any period or periods of time specified
in the  Stock  Option  Certificate  .  Except as  provided  in the Stock  Option
Certificate  , an Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during
its term.

         (f) Options shall be  nontransferable  and  nonassignable,  except that
Options may be transferred by testamentary  instrument or by the laws of descent
and distribution.

         (g) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (j) of this Section 7, if an
Option  holder's  employment  with  the  Company  or  any  of  its  subsidiaries
terminates  without such person having fully  exercised  any Option,  the Option
holder  shall have the right,  at any time during the ninety (90) days after the
date of  termination,  to  exercise  any  portion of the option  that the option
holder was entitled to exercise on the date of the  termination  of  employment;
provided  that in no event may any Option be exercised  after the  expiration of
the term of the Option.  After such  ninety (90) day period,  the Option and all
rights thereunder shall terminate except (i) to the extent previously  exercised
and (ii) as provided in subparagraph (h) of this Paragraph 7.




         (h) The Committee may  determine,  in its  discretion,  that the option
holder's  Option  should  not  terminate  upon the 90 day  period  set  forth in
paragraph  (g) or the six month period set forth in  paragraph  (i) and may take
such  action  with  respect to the Option as the  Committee  deems  appropriate,
including  extending  the time during  which the option  holder (or the holder's
executor or  administrator)  is entitled to purchase  the shares of Common Stock
subject to the option and/or  accelerating the vesting or  exercisability of any
unvested or unexercisable portion of the option.

         (i) If an Option  holder  dies during the term of the  holder's  Option
(whether  while  employed or during the period  after  employment  pursuant  tot
paragraph  (g) or (h) of this  Section 7) without  having  fully  exercised  the
Option,  the executor or  administrator of the holder's estate or the person who
inherits the right to exercise the Option by bequest or  inheritance  shall have
the right within six months of the Option  holder's death to purchase the number
of shares of Common  Stock  that the  deceased  Option  holder was  entitled  to
purchase at the date of death, after which time the Option shall lapse, provided
that in no event may any Option be exercised after the expiration of the term of
the Option.

         (j) The Committee may cancel an Option  immediately upon termination of
employment or at any time during the ninety day period  referred to in paragraph
(g), if the person had  engaged  during  employment  with the Company or engages
during such 90 day period in employment or activities  contrary,  in the opinion
of the Committee, to the best interests of the Corporation.

         (k) The granting of an Option pursuant to the Plan shall not constitute
or be evidence of any  agreement or  understanding,  express or implied,  on the
part of the  Corporation  or any of its  subsidiaries  to retain  or employ  the
Option holder for any specified period.

         (l) In addition to the general terms and  conditions  set forth in this
Paragraph 7 in respect of Options granted pursuant to the Plan,  Incentive Stock
Options  granted  pursuant  to the  Plan  shall  be  subject  to  the  following
additional terms and conditions:

                  (i)  "Incentive  stock  options"  shall  be  granted  only  to
         individuals  who,  at the  date of grant of the  Option,  are  regular,
         full-time employees of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries;

                  (ii) No employee  who owns  beneficially  more than 10% of the
         total combined  voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation
         shall be eligible to be granted an "incentive stock option;"

                  (iii) The aggregate fair market value  (determined at the time
         the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the shares of Common Stock in



         respect of which  "incentive  stock  options" are  exercisable  for the
         first time by the Option  holder  during any  calendar  year (under all
         such plans of the  Corporation and its  subsidiaries)  shall not exceed
         $100,000; and

                  (iv) The Option  Agreement  in respect of an  Incentive  Stock
         Option may  contain  any other terms and  conditions  specified  by the
         Committee  that are not  inconsistent  with the Plan,  except that such
         terms and  conditions  must be  consistent  with the  requirements  for
         "incentive stock options" under Section 422 of the Code.

         8. Methods of Exercise of Options

         (a) An  optionee  desiring to exercise an Option as to all or a part of
the shares of Common Stock  covered by the Option  shall  deliver to the Company
(i) a completed and signed Stock Option  Exercise Form (as attached to the Stock
Option  Certificate)  specifying  the  number of shares  to be  purchased,  (ii)
payment (as set forth in  Subsection  8(b)) in full for the  aggregate  exercise
price  for  the  shares  of  Common  Stock  being  purchased;  and  (iii)  if  a
Non-Qualified  Option,  payment (as set forth in  Subsection  8(b)) of an amount
equal to the amount required by the Company to be withheld for federal and state
taxes in connection with the exercise.

         (b) Payments of the exercise price and the  withholding  taxes shall be
paid as follows:

                  (i) in United  States  dollars  by  certified  check,  or bank
         draft, or

                  (ii) in shares of Common Stock owned by the person  exercising
         the Option and having a Fair Market  Value on the date of exercise  (as
         defined in  subparagraph  1(g) above) equal to the  exercise  price and
         withholding amount, or

                  (iii) by surrender of a number of shares subject to the Option
         with a "Net Value" equal to the Exercise Price and  withholding  amount
         for the shares being purchased in the exercise (a "Cashless Exercise").
         The Net Value is equal to the Fair  Market  Value of the  shares  being
         surrendered  on the date of exercise  less the exercise  price for such
         surrendered shares; or

                  (iv) by a  combination  of the  consideration  in clauses (i),
         (ii) and (iii).

         (c)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  provisions,   the  Committee,  in
granting  Options pursuant to the Plan, may limit the methods in which an Option
may be exercised by any person and, in processing  any purported  exercise of an
Option  granted  pursuant  to the Plan,  may refuse to  recognize  the method of
exercise  selected by the Option  holder  (other than the method of exercise set
forth in subparagraph 8(b)(i)) if, in the opinion of counsel to the Corporation,
there is a substantial  likelihood  that the method of exercise  selected by the
Option holder would subject the Option holder to a substantial risk of liability
under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

         (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Committee may include
in the Stock Option  Certificate  relating to any such Nonqualified Stock Option



provisions  limiting  or  eliminating  the  Option  holder's  ability to pay his
withholding tax obligation with shares of Common Stock or, if no such provisions
are included in the Stock Option Certificate but in the opinion of the committee
such  withholding  would  have  an  adverse  tax  or  accounting  effect  to the
Corporation,  at or prior to  exercise  of the  Nonqualified  Stock  Option  the
Committee  may so limit or  eliminate  the  Option  holder's  ability to pay his
withholding  tax  obligation  with shares of Common Stock.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing provisions,  a holder of a Nonqualified Stock Option may not elect any
of the methods of satisfying  his  withholding  tax obligation in respect of any
exercise  if,  in  the  opinion  of  counsel  to  the  Corporation,  there  is a
substantial likelihood that the election or timing of the election would subject
the holder to a substantial  risk of liability  under Section 16 of the Exchange
Act.

         (e) An Option  holder at any time may elect in  writing  to  abandon an
Option in respect  of all or part of the number of shares of Common  Stock as to
which the Option shall not have been exercised.

         (f) An Option holder shall have none of the rights of a stockholder  of
the  Corporation  until the  shares of Common  Stock  covered  by the Option are
issued to him upon exercise of the Option.

         9. Amendments and Discontinuance of the Plan

         (a) The  Committee  shall  have the  right at any time and from time to
time to amend, modify, or discontinue the Plan provided that, except as provided
in subparagraph 6(c), no such amendment,  modification, or discontinuance of the
Plan shall (i) revoke or alter the terms of any valid Option previously  granted
pursuant to the Plan,  (ii)  increase the number of shares of Common Stock to be
reserved for issuance and sale pursuant to Options granted pursuant to the Plan,
(iii) change the maximum  aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be
issued upon the exercise of Options  granted  pursuant to the Plan to any single
individual,  (iv) decrease the price  determined  pursuant to the  provisions of
subparagraph  7(b),  (v)  change the class of  persons  to whom  Options  may be
granted pursuant to the Plan, or (vi) provide for Options  exercisable more than
10 years after the date granted.

         10. Plan Subject to Governmental Laws and Regulations

         The Plan and the grant and  exercise  of Options  pursuant  to the Plan
shall  be  subject  to  all  applicable   governmental   laws  and  regulations.
Notwithstanding  any other provision of the Plan to the contrary,  the Committee
may in its sole and absolute  discretion make such changes in the Plan as may be
required to conform the Plan to such laws and regulations.

         11. Duration of the Plan

         No Option  shall be  granted  pursuant  to the Plan  after the close of
business on September 7, 2006.





                                                                    Exhibit 23.2


                   CONSENT OF INDENPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference  in  this  Form  S-8   Registration   Statement   of  Youth   Services
International,  Inc. pertaining to the Youth Services  International,  Inc. 1997
Employee Stock Option Plan, of our report dated July 23, 1997.



                                        /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

Baltimore, Maryland,
February 25, 1998