NCJ Number
67979
Date Published
1977
Length
11 pages
Annotation
BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, SOCIAL AGENCIES, CLIENTS, AND PROJECT STAFF, THE EVALUATION OF ALASKA YOUTH ADVOCATES, INC. (AYA), INDICATES PROGRESS IN MEETING THE PROGRAM'S OBJECTIVES AND GOALS.
Abstract
A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, AYA HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PRESENTING ALTERNATIVES FOR YOUTH IN ORDER TO DIVERT THEM FROM INVOLVEMENT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES INCLUDE PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO 350 YOUTHS, A 60-PERCENT SELF-REFERRAL GOAL, A 60PERCENT REINTEGRATION RATE OF RUNAWAY YOUTHS BACK INTO THEIR HOMES, DEVELOPING A REFERRAL FOR DIVERSION AGREEMENT WITH THE ANCHORAGE FAMILY COURT INTAKE OFFICE, INCREASING AYA STAFF'S COUNSELING AND CASEWORK CAPABILITIES, AND ESTABLISHING TRAINING SESSIONS WITH PROFESSIONAL AND CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS. INTERVIEWS WITH FAMILIES RECEIVING DIRECT SERVICES FROM AYA IN THE 1976 GRANT PERIOD INDICATE THAT THE PROJECT IS EFFECTIVE IN DECREASING CLIENT INVOLVEMENT WITH THE POLICE. SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY PERSONNEL WERE ALL SUPPORTIVE OF AYA AND REGULARLY REFERRED CLIENTS TO IT. SYSTEM AGENCY PERSONNEL (JUVENILE PROBATION, COURT SYSTEM AND POLICE) WERE ANTAGONISTIC TO THE AYA ADVOCACY ROLE. THERE IS A NEED FOR LARGER CASELOADS, AN OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR MINORITIES, A LONG-TERM FOLLOWUP PERIOD OF A YEAR OR MORE, AND UPDATED INTAKE FORMS AND STATISTICAL REPORT FORMATS. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LIBRARY FOR FAMILY AND JUVENILE RESOURCES, A SEMIANNUAL NEWSLETTER, AND AYA DIVERSIFICATION INTO DRUG, ALCOHOL, AND ALTERNATIVE CAREER COUNSELING. A PROGRAM SUMMARY AND AN EXPLANATION OF PROGRAM AREAS AND SERVICES ARE APPENDED.