LAKES REGION (NH) HUMAN SERVICES COORDINATING COUNCIL 'LACONIA YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU,' SEPTEMBER 8, 1978 MARCH 30, 1979 - AN EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 55295
• Author(s): V GARRELL-MICHAUD
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-11-JJ-2313-CO2
• Sponsoring Agency: New Hampshire Governor's Cmssn on Crime and Delinquency
• Corporate Author: New Hampshire Governor's Cmssn on Crime and Delinquency
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE BACKGROUND, PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, AND FIRST 8 MONTHS OF OPERATION OF THE LACONIA (N.H.) YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU ARE DESCRIBED, AND EVALUATION RESULTS ARE REPORTED.

Abstract

IN SEPTEMBER 1977, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GOVERNOR'S COMMISSION ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY (GCCD) APPROVED A GRANT TO THE LAKES REGION HUMAN SERVICES COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LACONIA YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU. FUNDS WERE AWARDED FOR 6 MONTHS OF OPERATION. PRIOR TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROJECT, THE LACONIA MAYOR'S AD HOC COMMITTEE ON YOUTH CONDUCTED A STUDY ON THE PROBLEMS OF YOUTH IN LACONIA. THE SUBCOMMITTEES ON EDUCATION, JUVENILE JUSTICE, HEALTH AND SOCIAL AGENCY RESOURCES, AND PROGRAMS PRESENTLY AVAILABLE ALL IDENTIFIED EXISTING PROBLEMS OF COMMUNICATION, A LACK OF COORDINATION OF PRESENT COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND THE NEED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH SERVICE PROGRAMS. THE LACONIA YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU WAS PROPOSED TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: (1) THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM FOR YOUTH SERVICES, INCLUDING THE COMPILATION OF A YOUTH SERVICES RESOURCES DIRECTORY; (2) THE CONTINUATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND EXPANSION OF A LOCAL YOUTH SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE; (3) THE COORDINATION OF EXISTING YOUTH PROGRAMS; AND (4) THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DETAILED YOUTH SERVICES PLAN FOR THE REGION. TWO STAFF POSITIONS, THAT OF PROJECT DIRECTOR AND PART-TIME SECRETARY, WERE ESTABLISHED. THE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM BECAME OPERATIONAL DURING THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT AS AN EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM OF THE LAKES REGION TWIN RIVERS HUMAN SERVICES COORDINATING COUNCIL. A SYMPOSIUM ON JUVENILE COURT DIVERSION WAS ALSO CONDUCTED. OF THE 49 CLIENTS REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES BY THE YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU FROM MAY THROUGH DECEMBER 1978, 41 WERE SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED IN FOLLOWUP TO REVEAL THAT 35 HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ACQUIRING AN APPROPRIATE SERVICE. IN JULY 1978, A GCCD EVALUATION WAS COMPLETED. IT CONCLUDED THAT ALTHOUGH NUMEROUS ADMINISTRATIVE DELAYS WERE EXPERIENCED DURING THE FIRST MONTHS OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, EACH OF THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESSED. A LIST OF REFERRAL SOURCES AND YOUTH BUREAU REFERRALS IS PROVIDED. (RCB)