NCJ Number
61730
Date Published
1978
Length
160 pages
Annotation
THE CHANGING PATTERNS OF RUNAWAY YOUTHS' NEEDS, NOW INVOLVING LONG-TERM AFTERCARE INSTEAD OF SHORT-TERM CRISIS INTERVENTION, ALONG WITH THE CHALLENGES THEY POSE FOR RUNAWAY YOUTH PROJECTS, ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THIS REPORT IS BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF A PREVIOUS STUDY FUNDED BY THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BUREAU OF THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THIS REPORT DESCRIBES HOW LOCAL PROJECTS, OPERATING ON A SMALL SCALE, HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SOLVED OBSTACLES FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED BY GOVERNMENT-OPERATED RUNAWAY YOUTH PROJECTS. THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDE OVERBURDENED STAFFS, INADEQUATE COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND LACK OF COOPERATION FROM REFERRAL AGENCIES. THE ESSENTIAL STEPS IN DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE AFTERCARE STRATEGY ARE DEFINED AND ENCOMPASS COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT, AFTERCARE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, MAKING AFTERCARE A PROJECT PRIORITY, FINALIZING AFTERCARE OBJECTIVES, DEVELOPING A 1-YEAR WRITTEN AFTERCARE PLAN, AND DEVELOPING AN AFTERCARE RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM. OTHER ESSENTIAL STEPS ARE TRAINING AFTERCARE STAFF, INCLUDING VOLUNTEER AND PEER COUNSELORS; STARTING AN AFTERCARE GROUP FOR YOUTH OR PARENTS; DEVELOPING AN INTERAGENCY REFERRAL SYSTEM; DEVELOPING CLASS ADVOCACY; AND DEVELOPING AN ONGOING AFTERCARE COMPONENT. EFFECTIVE EVALUATIVE TOOLS SHOULD ALSO BE DEVISED TO MEASURE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF AFTERCARE SERVICES FROM THE VIEWPOINTS OF SERVICE CLIENTS, THEIR PARENTS, REFERRAL AGENCIES COOPERATING WITH THE PROJECTS, AND PROJECT STAFFS. CASE HISTORIES OF PROJECTS' CLIENTS ILLUSTRATE THIER PROBLEMS AND THEIR FEELINGS WITH REGARD TO THE SERVICES THEY RECEIVE. NUMEROUS APPENDIXES GIVE STATISTICS ON THE RUNAWAY YOUTH PROJECTS' AFTERCARE SERVICES AND SAMPLES OF EVALUATION INSTRUMENTS.