NCJ Number
52626
Date Published
1978
Length
28 pages
Annotation
A FLORIDA PROGRAM AIMED AT ESTABLISHING AND SUPPORTING A STATEWIDE YOUTH ADVOCACY NETWORK IS EVALUATED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE PROGRAM ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, SUPPORTED BY JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT FUNDS, BEGAN OPERATIONS IN SEPTEMBER 1976. CREATED AS A MEANS OF ORGANIZING CONCERNED CITIZENS AND PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT THE STATE INTO A NETWORK OF ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, THE CENTER HAS UNDERTAKEN THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES: PUBLICATION OF A BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER; DEVELOPMENT OF MULTICOUNTY CHILD/YOUTH ADVOCACY STRUCTURES; DEVELOPMENT OF A CLEARINGHOUSE TO ASSIST STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR CHILD ADVOCACY EFFORTS; AND TRAINING IN ADVOCACY STRATEGIES FOR VOLUNTEERS. THE PROJECT IS EVALUATED IN TERMS OF ITS PROGRESS TOWARD ACCOMPLISHING STATED OBJECTIVES AND ON THE BASIS OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF PERSONS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE CENTER IS MEETING ITS OBJECTIVES AND HAS CONTRIBUTED TO PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL AWARENESS REGARDING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH. IN ITS EARLY STAGES, THE CENTER FOCUSED ON ORGANIZATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS AND ON STATEWIDE PROBLEMS RATHER THAN ON TAKING A PROACTIVE ROLE IN LOCAL COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION. THE CENTER HIRED A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SPECIALIST, HOWEVER, IN AUGUST 1977. THE CENTER IS PERCEIVED AS FACILITATING COOPERATION AND COORDINATION AMONG PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS INVOLVED IN CHILD ADVOCACY. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE CENTER'S INFORMATION-GATHERING EFFORTS, ORGANIZATION, AND ADMINISTRATION ARE OFFERED, TOGETHER WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR BROADENING THE SCOPE OF THE CENTER'S ACTIVITIES. CONTINUATION OF THE CENTER'S FUNDING IS RECOMMENDED. DETAILS OF THE EVALUATION METHODS AND FINDINGS ARE PROVIDED. NO SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)