NCJ Number
116820
Date Published
1986
Length
51 pages
Annotation
This demonstration project was designed to provide independent living skills for 16- and 17-year-old youth who were runaways, throwaways, or about to be released from the custody of child protective services.
Abstract
The project was a joint effort of the National Network of Runaway and Youth Services, a nonprofit membership organization representing 150 shelters and over 20 coalitions of over 800 youth programs, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America (BB/BS). Runaway agencies identified clients and provided appropriate counseling and training to assist clients and BB/BS volunteers. BB/BS agencies identified volunteers, provided training, and managed cases. Both organizations collaborated to determine individual needs of both clients and volunteers and to ensure that these needs were met. Tasks of clients included goal setting and achieving competencies in the areas of personal habits, securing an adequate place to live, and learning basic independent living skills (work experience, education/training, career planning, financial management, resolution of family conflicts, awareness of community support systems). Of 58 client-volunteer matches made at 5 sites, 38 were active at the end of the project period. Guidelines for replicating this model are provided and advantages of the model are discussed. An annotated bibliography is included, and the client skill evaluation form is appended.