ROLE OF CHILD ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY ACTION (FROM JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM - NEW DIRECTIONS IN POLICY AND PROGRAMS, 1977, BY PETER J ECK AND BRENDA BRADSHAW - SEE NCJ-56707)

• NCJ Number: 56717
• Author(s): L MURDOCK; F RECIO; R GRAHAM; LOFSTROM; M OSER; A MARCUS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Texas at Arlington
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. PANEL PRESENTATION

Annotation

SIX LOCAL PROGRAMS OF CHILD ADVOCACY ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED.

Abstract

A COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, FUNDED BY LEAA, DEALS WITH STATUS OFFENDERS AS DEFINED IN HARRIS COUNTY. FOURTEEN CENTERS LOCATED IN VARIOUS SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WORK WITH YOUTHS IDENTIFIED BY TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF AS UNABLE TO ADJUST IN THE THE CLASSROOM. THE CENTERS PROVIDE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, COUNSELING, AND REFERRAL SERVICES IN ORDER TO CORRECT PROBLEMS. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FOR TWO PEOPLE TO WORK WITHIN THE INTAKE DIVISION OF THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, IN ORDER TO DIVERT YOUTH CLASSIFIED AS STATUS OFFENDERS. A SECOND PROGRAM IN HARRIS COUNTY, COURT VOLUNTEER SERVICES, HAS THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE: (1)RECRUITING CITIZENS TO PROVIDE A ONE-TO-ONE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN ADJUDICATED DELINQUENTS OR DECLARED TO BE 'CHILDREN IN NEED OF SUPERVISION;' (2) PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT IN LESS SERIOUS CASES; AND (3) ESTABLISHING A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. A PROJECT IN TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS, THE LABOR YOUTH SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM, DIVERTS ADJUDICATED DELINQUENTS AND PREDELINQUENTS FROM FURTHER PENETRATION INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND SOCIAL SERVICES. A PROGRAM INSTITUTED BY THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA CALLED 'CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS' IS A VOLUNTARY WORK PROGRAM FOR 18- TO 20-YEAR-OLD YOUTHS, WHO HAVE THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE STATE. THE VOLUNTEER PARTICIPANTS ARE PAID $254 TO $550 A MONTH WORKING IN A WILDERNESS ENVIRONMENT IN THE INTERESTS OF CONSERVATION. IN TEXAS, THE LEGISLATURE HAS KEPT FUNDS FOR CHILD ADVOCACY AT THE 1969 LEVEL. AS A RESULT, A COALITION HAS BEGUN WORK TO INFLUENCE THE LEGISLATURE IN THIS AREA. THUS FAR, 17 COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE HAVE HELD CITY-WIDE MEETINGS AND ORGANIZED A LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATORS. THE TEXAS COALITION FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE IS COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR AND HAS AS ITS PRIMARY GOAL THE RAISING OF COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF YOUTH AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO HELP THEM. FOR RELATED ARTICLES, PLEASE SEE NCJ 57707-56716. (RCB)