NCJ Number
84948
Date Published
1982
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Although Title XX does not specifically target status offenders for its services, the range of services and clients that can be covered can include programs for status offenders.
Abstract
Title XX is a Federal program that provides funds to States to support the delivery of social services. It is primarily State decisions that influence the potential Title XX coverage. Analysis of the seven State programs has uncovered a variety of methods for providing coverage for status offenders and dependent and neglected children. More and more often, status offenders are being referred to State and local social service agencies, and these agencies frequently are required by State law to serve these youth. Field work has shown that the responses of service agencies to this new client group range from ignoring them to instituting complete packages of services for them. When services are provided or purchased, status offenders are served through the agencies' general service programs funded through a variety of Federal, State, local, and private sources. Title XX is only one of the funding sources and is probably used on a case-by-case basis when the client, status offender or not, meets the eligibility requirements. States do not change their programs merely because the Federal Government establishes a new program. Instead, State bureaucracies maintain their own structure, objectives, and programs, while they identify and use Federal funding sources to support their existing programs. Generally, this is what has happened with Title XX and services to status offenders. Thirty references are listed.