NCJ Number
54792
Date Published
1976
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS TO DIVERT CHILDREN AND YOUTH FROM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO CHANGE ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
WORKERS IN BUREAUS, AS YOUTH ADVOCATES, CAN HELP YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR BEHAVIOR AND THE BEHAVIOR OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND PEERS. IN THE PROCESS OF ADVOCACY, MANY KINDS OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES CAN BE EMPLOYED TO ENABLE YOUTH TO HANDLE SITUATIONS THAT PRESSURE THEM. SERVICE BROKERAGE, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, AND SYSTEM MODIFICATION ARE THREE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF BUREAUS. BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROTOTYPE FOR BUREAUS, EACH COMMUNITY MUST DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF ORGANIZATION AND EMPHASIS CAN DIVERT YOUTH FROM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER COURT INVOLVEMENT. BUREAUS ARE BEST ESTABLISHED BY A PLANNING BODY AUTHORIZED THROUGH LAW TO REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT AND CITIZEN GROUPS ABOUT YOUTH PROBLEMS. EFFECTIVE BUREAUS AND EFFECTIVE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION REQUIRE THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL COMMUNITY SEGMENTS (BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, YOUTH, CONCERNED ADULTS, AND PROFESSIONALS SKILLED IN DEALING WITH YOUTH PROBLEMS). STEPS TO FOLLOW IN ESTABLISHING A BUREAU INVOLVE THE FORMULATION OF A STEERING COMMITTEE, FUNDING, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MANAGEMENT BOARD, A SURVEY TO PROVIDE DATA ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COUNCILS TO AID IN DECISIONMAKING, AND THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR YOUTH UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF BUREAU STAFF. GOALS OF A BUREAU PROGRAM ARE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO YOUTH (WHETHER SELF-REFERRED OR REFERRED BY AN AGENCY), TO EXAMINE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF YOUTH, TO DETERMINE HOW UNAVAILABLE SERVICES CAN BEST BE DEVELOPED, TO EVALUATE THE SUCCESS OF THE BUREAU PROGRAM IN RELATION TO STATED GOALS, TO ESTABLISH NECESSARY MECHANISMS AND RESOURCES TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM, AND TO AVOID OVERLOADING STAFF. YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS REPRESENT ONE WAY THAT CITIZENS, YOUTHS, AND PROFESSIONALS CAN TAKE POSITIVE ACTION IN DEALING WITH THE SOCIAL PROBLEM OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY THAT TRADITIONALLY HAS BEEN LEFT TO THE POLICE AND THE COURTS. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES AND READING MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO AID IN THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS ARE LISTED. (DEP)