MILWAUKEE COUNTY (WI) YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU SYSTEM - AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT, VOLUME 2 - THE FIVE AREA YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS

• NCJ Number: 60387
• Author(s): B M BENNETT; R D CAIN; W A LOFQUIST
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 96 pages
• Grant Number(s): 74-06-03-01; 75-06-04-01
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Sale Source: National Council on Crime and Delinquency; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: VOLUME 1 - NCJ 60386

Annotation

THE FIVE AREA YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS (YSBS) IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WISCONSIN ARE ASSESSED AS TO THEIR CURRENT USE OF RESOURCES, AND WAYS ARE SUGGESTED FOR THE YSBS TO HELP PREVENT DELINQUENCY.

Abstract

IN VOLUME 1 OF THIS 2-VOLUME ASSESSMENT OF AREA YSBS, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE FIVE AREA YSBS BE ALLOWED TO MOVE TOWARD INDEPENDENT STATUS, THAT THE PURCHASE OF SERVICE PROGRAMS BE DISCONTINUED, AND THAT A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF TRAINING AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT BE UNDERTAKEN TO SUPPORT A SHIFT INTO MORE PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY-DEVELOPMENT WORK. IN THE SECOND VOLUME OF THE ASSESSMENT PRESENTED HERE, EACH OF THE FIVE AREA YSBS IS DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT, PROGRAMS AND PROCEDURES, STAFF AND OFFICE, RELATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE ADVISORY BOARD, AND THE PURCHASE OF SERVICES. SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED FOR IMPROVING THE USE OF RESOURCES. AS A RESULT OF THE ASSESSMENT PROJECT, A STRATEGY FOR BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE YSB IS PRESENTED. IT INCLUDES PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREAS RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY, YOUTH INVOLVEMENT, STRATEGY BUILDING 'FROM THE GROUND UP,' AND PLANNED CHANGE AS A POSITIVE VENTURE. TO BUILD A STRONG BASE OF SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY, A PROGRAM NEEDS TO HAVE VISIBILITY (CITIZEN AWARENESS OF THE YSB), CREDIBILITY (COMMUNITY BELIEF THAT THE YSB IS A NECESSARY UNDERTAKING IN THE COMMUNITY), AND EFFICACY (ABILITY OF THE PROJECT TO PRODUCE TANGIBLE RESULTS IN ACCOMPLISHING STATED OBJECTIVES). IN THE AREA OF YOUTH INVOLVEMENT, YOUTH SHOULD BE VIEWED NOT JUST AS CLIENTS OF THE YSB, BUT AS RESOURCE PEOPLE AND DELIVERERS OF PROGRAMS TO THE COMMUNITY. IN STRATEGY BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP, IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHAPE THE PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT WILL OPERATE. TWO MODELS FOR ACCOMPLISHING THIS ARE FORCE FIELD ANALYSIS, WHICH FOCUSES ON EFFECTING CHANGES, AND THE PROJECT WORKSHEET, WHICH IS A PLANNING OUTLINE THAT CAN BE USED IN RELATION TO SPECIFIC SITUATIONS WHERE CHANGE IS DESIRED. PLANNED CHANGE AS A POSITIVE VENTURE IS VIEWED AS A WAY OF CHANGING THE CONDITIONS IMPACTING PEOPLE'S LIVES SO THAT IMPROVED PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT RESULTS. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN DETAILED DISCUSSIONS OF FORCE FIELD ANALYSIS, PROJECT WORKSHEET, AND THE CLIENT DATA FORM. (RCB)