NCJ Number
143305
Date Published
1989
Length
118 pages
Annotation
This annual report to Congress is submitted in response to Section 361 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, Title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974.
Abstract
Section 361 requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to report to Congress annually on the status and accomplishments of runaway and homeless youth centers. The report is based on activities during fiscal year 1989 and information derived from Youth Information Forms (YIF's) filled out by participating centers. The YIF's provide basic demographic data on youth, their reasons for leaving home, services provided, and service outcomes. Services to runaway and homeless youth are made available through short-term crisis centers that provide for immediate needs, including shelter, food, clothing, counseling, and reunification with parents when possible. HHS-funded centers provided basic services to an estimated 63,000 youth in fiscal year 1989. About half of the youth were reunited with their families or guardians, 33 percent were placed in alternative living arrangements, 9 percent had no planned destination, and 5 percent returned to the streets. To serve these youth, HHS awarded 343 basic center grants using Runaway and Homeless Youth Act funds. Ten grants totaling $780,000 were awarded on a noncompetitive continuation basis to support coordinated regional service networks in all States and territories. HHS continued to support the National Communications System at an annual level of $500,000 and awarded four new discretionary research and demonstration grants totaling $283,470 to a range of projects focusing on the prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse among minority youth, integrated treatment for dysfunctional families of at-risk youth, and independent living programs for transitional homeless youth. Additional information on center grants, regional youth contacts, coordinated network grantees, and research and development grantees is appended. 25 tables