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OVERSIGHT HEARING ON THE RUNAWAY YOUTH ACT - HEARING BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, 95TH CONGRESS, 2ND SESSION, MARCH 7, 1978

NCJ Number
54507
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1978
Length
366 pages
Annotation
PREPARED STATEMENTS AND TESTIMONY EVALUATE THE RUNAWAY YOUTH PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE (HEW). TYPES OF JUVENILES SERVED AND DISPOSITION OF THESE JUVENILES IS COVERED.
Abstract
THE HEARING WAS HELD TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROGRAM, AUTHORIZED BY TITLE 3 OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ACT OF 1974, WAS BEING ADEQUATELY MANAGED, PROPERLY EVALUATED, AND FULFILLING ITS FUNCTION OF DIVERTING RUNAWAYS FROM THE FORMAL JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM. TESTIMONY DESCRIBES AN INPROCESS EVALUATION, GIVES DETAILS OF PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND NUMBER OF JUVENILES SERVED (68,000 YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN FISCAL YEAR 1977), AND DESCRIBES THE 128 SHELTERS AND THE TELEPHONE 'HOTLINE' FUNDED BY THE PROGRAM. THE TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE SERVICE, THE NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWITCHBOARD, HANDLED MORE THAN 40,000 CALLS IN 1977. THE TOTAL COUNSELING AND SERVICE NETWORK IS DESCRIBED, INCLUDING REFERRALS TO DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND FOSTER CARE. IT IS THE OPINION OF THOSE TESTIFYING THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE COULD WELL END UP IN THE COURT SYSTEM IF NOT DIVERTED, BUT HARD FIGURES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER THE EVALUATION. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT RUNAWAYS IN THE 1970'S, UNLIKE THOSE IN THE 1960'S, STAY CLOSER TO HOME AND THE PROGRAMS CAN DEAL WITH THESE JUVENILES IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. IN 1977 ABOUT TWO-THIRDS COMING TO THE PROGRAM WERE RETURNED TO THEIR FAMILIES, TO RELATIVES, OR WERE PLACED WITH FOSTER HOMES. OFFICIALS OF THE NATIONAL RUNAWAY SWITCHBOARD GIVE STATISTICS ON ITS OPERATION. APPENDED MATERIALS CONTAIN BUDGETS FOR THE SHELTERS, A BUDGET FOR THE TELEPHONE HOTLINE, STATISTICS ON THE YOUTH SERVED, ESTIMATED STATISTICS ON RUNAWAYS NATIONALLY, AND DETAIL OF PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. A 26-PAGE RERORT, THE HEW 'NATIONAL STATISTICAL SURVEY ON RUNAWAY YOUTH,' IS INCLUDED AS ARE LEGAL ARTICLES ON THE TREATMENT OF RUNAWAYS IN THE COURT SYSTEM.