NCJ Number
77285
Date Published
1979
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This annual report describes the work of the Mecklenburg Youth Services Bureau (YSB), which serves children in need in Charlotte, and Mecklenburg County, N.C.
Abstract
During fiscal year 1978-79, the YSB, an agency of county government, assisted in diverting 346 children from juvenile court and correctional institutions to needed services and aided the youth services action board (YSAB) to identify, implement, coordinate, and monitor juvenile delinquency prevention and treatment services. Children served ranged in age from 5 to 17 years; 44 percent were female and 56 percent were male. Whites accounted for 51 percent, blacks for 48 percent, and American Indians for 1 percent. Referrals consisted of 284 undisciplined children (82 percent), 8 delinquent/predelinquent (2 percent), and 54, combination of undisciplined and delinquent/predelinquent. A total of 293 of 323 prepetition cases (91 percent) did not have an undisciplined or delinquent petition filed; 20 of the 23 postpetitions (87 percent) did not have an additional undisciplined or delinquent petition filed. Two children had been incarcerated in a juvenile correctional institution. Working with generally 10 to 12 cases at a time, YSB counselors averaged 2.64 case contacts (home visits, school visits, and individual counseling sessions) per week per client for a service duration usually not exceeding 3.5 months. Of the 167 families receiving intensive services, 92 percent were referred to other human service agencies; 83 percent returned consumer evaluation reports regarding intensive services, and 85 percent of those completing services before April 1, 1979, provided followup information 3 months after service termination. Definitions of terms and supplemental information are appended. Graphs and tabular data are provided. (Author abstract modified)