YOUTH-COMMUNITY COORDINATION PROJECT - A PREVENTION EFFORT

• NCJ Number: 45292
• Author(s): J B HISSONG; S G WINETT
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: American Public Welfare Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM PUBLIC WELFARE (SUMMER 1977)

Annotation

THIS REPORT EVALUATES THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY AND INTERAGENCY COOPERATION IN THE PREVENTION OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.

Abstract

THE YOUTH-COMMUNITY COORDINATION PROJECT (Y-CCP) IS AN INTERMEDIATE PREVENTION EFFORT; IT ADDRESSES SOME OF THE BASIC CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, SUCH AS POVERTY AND UNEMPLOYMENT, BUT RELATES MORE TO COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. ITS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH HAS THESE OBJECTIVES: TO DEMONSTRATE THAT A COORDINATED, DATA-BASED APPROACH TO PLANNING FOR YOUTH CAN EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS LOCAL YOUTH PROBLEMS; TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF SITE COMMUNITIES TO UTILIZE THIS APPROACH; AND TO DEVELOP A MODEL YOUTH SERVICE SYSTEM AT EACH SITE THAT WILL POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THAT COMMUNITY'S PRIMARY INSTITUTIONS. ITS EMPHASIS IS ON PREVENTION (RATHER THAN REHABILITATION), AGENCY COOPERATION, AND IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEM AREAS BASED ON RESEARCH FINDINGS. FOUR COMMUNITIES WERE CHOSEN AS DEMONSTRATION SITES: CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA; JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO; SAVANNAH, GEORGIA; AND TACOMA, WASHINGTON. EACH SITE HAS ITS OWN LOCAL SPONSOR. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A DATA-BASED FOUNDATION, THE SERVICES OF TWO NATIONAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS WERE UTILIZED. THEY PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITIES IN THE AREAS OF YOUTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT; COMMUNITY RESOURCES INVENTORY; FLOW ANALYSIS (OF A YOUTH THROUGH THE COMMUNITY'S LEGAL SYSTEM); DESCRIPTION OF INTERRELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE COMMUNITY'S AGENCIES; DESCRIPTION OF NATURAL SUBAREAS WITHIN COMMUNITIES; AND EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM. A FULL-TIME COMMUNITY COORDINATOR WAS EMPLOYED AT EACH SITE. BASED ON THE FIRST YEAR'S EXPERIENCES, PROJECT STAFF DEVELOPED A MODEL YOUTH SERVICE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE A WORKABLE STRUCTURE FOR LOCAL EFFORTS. IT CONSISTED OF SEVERAL TASK FORCES, A RESEARCH AND EVALUATION TEAM, AND LIAISON ON SEVERAL LEVELS. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS INCLUDED DIFFICULTIES IN ESTABLISHING CREDIBILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY COORDINATORS AND IN CONDUCTING THE NECESSARY RESEARCH. SOME POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS EMERGED AS WELL. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE PROJECT SHOULD BE FUNDED BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT AGENCIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, SO THAT NO ONE AGENCY WOULD EXERCISE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER IT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF THE PROJECT WERE SUCCESSFUL.