NCJ Number
52627
Date Published
1977
Length
35 pages
Annotation
THE FLORIDA NETWORK PROJECT BECAME OPERATIONAL IN 1976 TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF RUNAWAY YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND ITS PROGRESS WAS EVALUATED IN 1977.
Abstract
EVALUATION OBJECTIVES WERE DEVELOPED WITH TWO MAJOR GOALS IN MIND: TO ASSESS THE INTERNAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT (MONITORING) AND TO ASSESS THE IMPACT/EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT IN IMPROVING SERVICES TO RUNAWAY YOUTH IN FLORIDA (OUTCOME EVALUATION). QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY FORMS WERE PRETESTED AND THEN MAILED TO ALL 11 RUNAWAY CENTERS IN FLORIDA. ITEMS ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE ELICITED INFORMATION ABOUT PLANNING CAPABILITIES OF CENTERS, COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS, PUBLIC-PRIVATE SECTOR COOPERATION AND SUPPORT, THE FACILITATION OF COORDINATION, AND THE INTERNAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CENTERS. THREE PERSONAL FOLLOWUP INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH SELECTED RUNAWAY CENTER DIRECTORS TO CHECK THE VALIDITY OF RESPONSES AND NOTE PROBLEM AREAS. EVALUATION DATA WERE COMPARED IN RELATION TO PREPROJECT AND POSTPROJECT INCEPTION, DRAFT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY STANDARDS ON RUNAWAYS, RELEVANT NATIONAL STUDIES ON NETWORKS AND/OR RUNAWAY CENTERS, AND NETWORK PROJECT OBJECTIVES. IT APPEARED THAT THE PROJECT MADE PROGRESS IN ESTABLISHING CONTACT WITH RUNAWAY CENTERS AND WITH SOME MAJOR RESOURCES FOR RUNAWAYS IN FLORIDA AND OTHER STATES DURING ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION. THE NETWORK HAD THE MOST IMPACT ON OBTAINING COOPERATION AND SUPPORT FOR PROVIDING RUNAWAY SERVICES, LARGELY THROUGH INCREASING AWARENESS OF RUNAWAY PROBLEMS, AND ON FACILITATING COORDINATION AMONG RUNAWAY CENTERS AND NETWORKS AT THE STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL LEVEL. THE PROJECT HAD LIMITED IMPACT WITH REGARD TO THE PROVISION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CLEARINGHOUSE INFORMATION. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO RUNAWAY YOUTH ARE OFFERED. APPENDIXES INCLUDE INFORMATION ON THE EVALUATION DESIGN, THE CONCEPTUAL MODEL, RUNAWAY CENTERS IN FLORIDA, AND THE QUESTIONNAIRE FORM. (DEP)