NCJ Number
78404
Date Published
1980
Length
57 pages
Annotation
This report describes the last few months of operation of a community-based program in New York City that was established with LEAA funding to serve troubled youths and was terminated in September 1980, shortly after its first complete year of operation.
Abstract
The Wiltwyck School's Community Alternatives for Youth (CAY) program aimed to prevent or reduce juvenile delinquency by providing a broad range of neighborhood social, recreational, counseling, and cultural services and programs to youth. Other goals were to enhance social skills, to provide supportive services to improve youths' feelings of self-worth, to work to improve the school and home environments, and to prepare youths for work experience. The program included social services, recreation, vocational training. and work experiences. Afterschool, evening, and summer programs were conducted. LEAA funding was terminated due to internal policy decisions within LEAA and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. When the program was terminated on September 30, 1980, 400-450 youths who had been served lost services, 18 of 21 staff members became unemployed, landlord-vendor relationships were severed, and no alternative funding had been secured. Overall programs goals and objectives were either achieved or exceeded. Overall program goals and objectives were either achieved or exceeded. The program's experience indicated that recreational programs can attract adolescents into programs that might otherwise seem unattractive to them and that vocational services both build self-esteem and act as an incentive for youths to return to school. It is recommended that close contact be maintained with local schools. Forms and data tables are provided.