NCJ Number
87918
Date Published
1982
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This annual report describes the centers funded and clients served under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RYA) as well as additional activities undertaken by the Youth Development Bureau (YDB) to implement the statutory mandate. The topics covered include status and accomplishments, implementation of the grants program, supportive national activities, research and demonstration activities, and Federal collaborative activities.
Abstract
In fiscal 1981 the program awarded $10.2 million in grants to 169 runaway and homeless youth centers located throughout the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The centers provided temporary shelter and long-term counseling to 45,000 youth and drop-in services to about 133,000 youth. The YDB funded the National Runaway Switchboard, a 24-hour toll-free hotline, which provided referral and crisis intervention assistance to about 200,000 youth and their families. The program enhanced the capacity of funded programs to serve runaway and homeless youth through a national technical assistance and training contract, the Youth Services Institute, site visits by regional staff, and conferences of grantees. The centers have further diversified their sources of income, which will decrease dependence on Federal funds and expand program services. Grants were given to coordinated networks of centers and other agencies to increase the participation of centers in State-level services planning. Research and demonstration activities were supported to test new service models and provide a secondary analysis of client data submitted by grantees. The program collaborated with other Federal programs, State and local units of government, and the private sector to improve services to vulnerable youth and their families. (Author summary modified)