NCJ Number
64801
Date Published
1979
Length
90 pages
Annotation
THE RESULTS ARE REPORTED OF A STUDY BY THE RICHMOND, VA., YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION TO DEFINE YOUTH NEEDS IN THE BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD OF HIGHLAND PARK AND ADDRESS THEM THROUGH EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
Abstract
THE FIRST OF TWO MAJOR SECTIONS OF THE STUDY DESCRIBES THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF HIGHLAND PARK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ITS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS; THE HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND EMPLOYMENT OF ITS CITIZENS; PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE PROBLEMS; AND CHILDREN'S PARTICIPATION IN RECREATION AND SCHOOLS. IN EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES, INFORMATION IS PRESENTED ABOUT THE SITUATION FROM OFFICIAL DATA, INTERVIEWS, AND A QUESTIONNAIRE. NEXT, THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO THE RESIDENTS' PROBLEMS IS DESCRIBED. IT WAS CONCLUDED FROM THIS ANALYSIS THAT CONCRETE YOUTH NEEDS IN HIGHLAND PARK COULD BEST BE MET THROUGH ASISTANCE TO THE FAMILIES, PEERS AND RECREATION GROUPS, AND SCHOOLS WHICH PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR HIGHLAND PARK YOUTHS' LIVES. IN SECTION TWO, PROGRAM POSSIBILITIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCES WERE MATCHED WITH FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND PEERS, AND SCHOOLS. IT IS ALSO NOTED THAT THERE IS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR HELPING CHILDREN THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED PROGRAMS BY COORDINATION BETWEEN FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND CHURCHES THAT WORK WITH THE SAME YOUTH. WORK IN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD BE LESS COSTLY THAN CITY-WIDE PROGRAMS, NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE FEWER YOUTH WOULD BE INVOLVED, BUT BECAUSE LOCAL RESOURCES WOULD BE USED, INCLUDING OLDER YOUTH, OLDER CITIZENS, CITIZENS GROUPS, AND EXISTING BUILDINGS. APPENDIXES INCLUDE INFORMATION SOURCES AND METHODOLOGICAL NOTES FOR THE STUDY. REFERENCES, DIAGRAMS AND FIGURES ARE ALSO PROVIDED.