NCJ Number
54943
Journal
YOUTH AUTHORITY QUARTERLY Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1978) Pages: 10-20
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHING A YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL ARE PRESENTED THAT EMPHASIZE WORK OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH YOUTH-ORIENTED EMPLOYMENT AND THE PREVENTION OF CRIME.
Abstract
MOST YOUTH PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR ARE BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF NONINTERVENTION, UNLESS A NEED ARISES FROM CIRCUMSTANCES OVER WHICH EITHER A CHILD OR A YOUTH HAS NO CONTROL. NO PUBLIC POLICY EXISTS THAT ASSUMES CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE VALUABLE AND HAVE RIGHTS TO CERTAIN SERVICES THAT ARE NOT CONTROLLABLE BY PARENTS, SUCH AS NUTRITION, EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND WORK. WHILE PUBLIC SERVICE JOBS FOR THE DISADVANTAGED AND DELINQUENT ARE REACTIONARY AND REHABILITATIVE RATHER THAN PREVENTIVE OR DEVELOPMENTAL, GOOD YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS OFFER WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL YOUTH AND AVOID PROBLEMS OF LABELING, SPOILED IMAGES, IDENTIFICATION AS BEING POOR OR UNEDUCATED, AND ETHNICITY. WORK EXPERIENCE IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUTH BETWEEN 10 AND 17 YEARS OF AGE AND TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM GUARANTEEING BOTH WORK AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS. FOUNDATIONS OF A NATIONAL PROGRAM ARE PARTICIPATION, LEARNING, EARNING, AND SERVING. THE TARGET POPULATION OF SUCH A PROGRAM IS LARGE; IN 1976, 15.1 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION WERE BETWEEN 10 AND 17 YEARS OF AGE. CRITERIA USED TO DENY YOUTH THEIR RIGHT TO SERVICES SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON RACE OR ECONOMIC STATUS. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, WORK EXPERIENCE FOR YOUTH SHOULD AVOID JUNIOR ADULT WORK OPPORTUNITIES. A NATIONAL PROGRAM SHOULD PERMIT GOVERNMENT TO OFFER YOUTH AN IMMEDIATE REWARD (PAY FOR SERVICES RENDERED) WHILE EMPHASIZING A NATIONAL GOAL AND FUTURE REWARD IN THE FORM OF EDUCATION OR OTHER BENEFITS. YOUTH SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS. PROCEDURAL PROCESS SHOULD BE LESS IMPORTANT THAN PROGRAM DESIGN WHICH SHOULD BE VOLUNTARY AND MAXIMIZE THE INTERGRITY OF SELF-DETERMINATION, YOUTH INVOLVEMENT, AND EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY. GUIDELINES FOR EXPENDITURES ARE RECOMMENDED AS FOLLOWS: OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR LOCAL PROGRAMS THROUGH WHICH YOUTH ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY (WAGES), 50 PERCENT; FUTURE YOUTH ENTITLEMENTS, 40 PERCENT; AND ADMINISTRATION AND OVERHEAD, 10 PERCENT. A NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM SHOULD BE ADAPTABLE TO LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL NEEDS AND BE RESPONSIVE TO YOUTHS NEEDS. (DEP)