NCJ Number
58378
Date Published
1977
Length
33 pages
Annotation
THE PURPOSE OF THIS EVALUATION IS TO DESCRIBE FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA'S ALTERNATIVE HOUSE PROGRAM FOR RUNAWAYS AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN MEETING ITS STATED OBJECTIVES.
Abstract
THE OBJECTIVES OF ALTERNATIVE HOUSE, REMAINING ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN 1973, ARE (1) TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL CRISIS COUNSELING FOR POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL RUNAWAYS, (2) TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM CRISIS COUNSELING FOR FAMILIES OF RUNAWAYS, (3) TO REDUCE FURTHER STREET-ORIENTED RUNAWAY ACTIVITY BY PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, (4) TO PROVIDE A PROGRAM ALTERNATIVE TO THE COURTS AND THE POLICE FOR HANDLING RUNAWAYS, AND (5) TO PROVIDE POSTRUNAWAY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. PRIOR TO ALTERNATIVE HOUSE, ALTERNATIVES TO SYSTEM INTERVENTION WERE LIMITED, AND NO ADDITIONAL SERVICES OTHER THAN ALTERNATIVE HOUSE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED FOR RUNAWAYS IN THE COUNTY. SINCE THE OPENING OF ALTERNATIVE HOUSE, IT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE TO COMBINE INFORMAL SERVICES WITH OTHER, MORE FORMAL SANCTIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION REVEAL THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: IN 1976, THE PROGRAM SERVED 245 YOUTHS IN RESIDENCE; COUNSELING SESSIONS NUMBERED 1,135; HOTLINE COUNSELING SHOWED 438 SESSIONS WITH POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL RUNAWAYS; SHORT-TERM CRISIS COUNSELING WAS PROVIDED FOR 286 FAMILIES OF RUNAWAYS IN RESIDENCE; AND ONLY 4 PERCENT OF THE 275 RESIDENTS BECAME RUNAWAYS WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF LEAVING ALTERNATIVE HOUSE. LASTLY, ALTERNATIVE HOUSE HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE POLICE AND THE COURTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE RESOURCE FOR RUNAWAYS. IN 1976, 19 PERCENT OF THE 245 RESIDENTS WERE REFERRED TO ALTERNATIVE HOUSE BY POLICE, COURTS, AND PROBATION COUNSELORS. THE HOUSE ALSO HAS PROVIDED AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A WIDE VARIETY OF POST RUNAWAY SERVICES. THESE INCLUDE WALK-IN AND TELEPHONE CONTACTS, PARENT AND ADOLESCENT GROUPS, AND FOLLOW UPS AND READMISSION. STATISTICAL DATA ARE APPENDED.