YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU EXPERIENCE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY (CA) - LESSONS FOR PLANNING OF MULTI-SERVICE CENTERS

• NCJ Number: 55640
• Author(s): F MUNROE; K HOLLAND
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 27 pages
• Corporate Author: Santa Clara County Office of the County Executive
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF YOUTH SERVICES BUREAUS (YSB'S) IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF., ARE EXAMINED TO GAIN INSIGHTS FOR HELPING THE COUNTY IN PLANNING MULTISERVICE CENTERS (MSCS).

Abstract

THREE-DAY SITE VISITS WERE MADE TO THE THREE YSB'S OPERATIONS AT THE TIME OF THE STUDY (1975), AND ALL MEMBERS OF EACH YSB STAFF WERE INTERVIEWED. THE OBJECTIVES OF EACH YSB ARE (1) TO DIVERT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF YOUTH FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, (2) TO PROVIDE A MULTIFACETED YOUTH SERVICE SYSTEM, (3) TO USE COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN A MORE COORDINATED MANNER, (4) TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND YOUTH SERVICES, AND (5) TO PROVIDE DIRECT CASEWORK SERVICES. SERVICES EMPHASIZE SHORT-TERM, PRACTICAL BEHAVIOR-ORIENTED GUIDANCE RATHER THAN LONG-TERM THERAPY. THE UPPER AGE LIMIT FOR CLIENTS IS 17, AND THERE IS NO LOWER LIMIT. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON PREVENTION SERVICES TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY STAFF OF EACH YSB CONSISTS OF A SUPERVISING PROBATION OFFICER, SENIOR DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICER, POLICE OFFICER, SOCIAL WORKER, PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER, COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKER, STUDENT PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANT, AND SENIOR TYPIST. BESIDES THE FULL-TIME STAFF THERE ARE INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS. REFERRALS COME FROM THE POLICE, PROBATION, SCHOOLS, INDIVIDUALS, AND AGENCIES. AN ADVISORY BOARD EXISTS FOR EACH YSB TO ACT AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE YSB, TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE YSB ON COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND TO ADVISE THE DIRECTOR ON DECISIONS ON PROGRAMS AND ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES. A MULTISERVICE CENTER IS A FACILITY WHERE A VARIETY OF SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN A COORDINATED, MULTIDISCIPLINARY FASHION SIMILAR TO THE YSB, EXCEPT THAT THE MULTISERVICE CENTER PROVIDES A GREATER VARIETY OF SERVICES TO A BROADER RANGE OF CLIENTELE OVER A LONG TERM. IT IS EXPECTED THAT YSB'S SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO NEW MSC DIRECTORS, BOTH THROUGH VISITS TO YSBS AND POSSIBLY THROUGH HAVING YSB STAFF SPEND TIME AT THE MSC PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THE STAFF. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE YSB PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS, JOB DESCRIPTIONS OF YSB STAFF, AND FLOW CHARTS ON EACH OF THE YSB'S STUDIED. (RCB)