NCJ Number
59132
Date Published
Unknown
Length
20 pages
Annotation
LESSONS DRAWN FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF THE NATIONAL JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAM COLLABORATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF NATIONAL VOLUNTARY HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS, INC., ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT OF 1974, WHICH INCLUDED A MANDATE FOR STATES TO DEINSTITUTIONALIZE STATUS OFFENDERS AND DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS FOR TROUBLED YOUTH, THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF NATIONAL VOLUNTARY HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS FORMED THE TASK FORCE ON JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAM COLLABORATION. THIS TASK FORCE WAS ESTABLISHED TO INITIATE A PROCESS OF COLLABORATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL FOR YOUTH PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD BE TRANSMITTED TO THE AGENCIES' LOCAL AFFILLIATES. IN THE FALL OF 1975, THE TASK FORCE WAS AWARDED A LEAA GRANT TO FORM FIVE LOCAL JUVENILE JUSTICE COLLABORATIONS AND THERAPY INCREASE NATIONAL AGENCY AND LOCAL AFFILIATE CAPACITY TO SERVE STATUS OFFENDERS. AN EVALUATION OF THE FIRST 2 YEARS HAS PRODUCED THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS: (1) TRADITIONAL AGENCIES ARE REACHING OUT TO STATUS OFFENDERS AND OTHER TROUBLED YOUTH PREVIOUSLY UNDERSERVED OR NOT SERVED AT ALL; (2) NEW AND EXPANDED SERVICES HAVE EMERGED, SOME BEGUN BY INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES, SOME COOPERATIVELY DEVELOPED; (3) COLLABORATION IS CONTAGIOUS, EXTENDING FAR BEYOND THE ORIGINAL GROUP OF NATIONAL AGENCIES AND THEIR AFFILIATES; (4) APPROACHES AND STYLES ARE TAILORED TO PARTICULAR COLLABORATORS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH NEEDS ASSESSMENT, PROGRAM PLANNING, ADVOCACY, AND OPERATION OF DIRECT SERVICES; (5) CONFLICTS MUST BE ACCEPTED AS NORMAL AND NECESSARY; (6) SELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES TO THE COLLABORATION HAS PROFOUND EFFECTS UPON THE NATURE AND SUCCESS OF THE EFFORT; (7) THE PERSONAL QUALITIES AND SKILLS OF THE STAFF CONTRIBUTE TO OR RETARD COLLABORATION SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CHOSEN, PARTICULARLY IN THE INITIAL PLANNING. EACH OF THESE CONCLUSIONS IS DISCUSSED. (RCB)