Authorizing the Mayor to submit to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare a grant application under Title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974

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SHELTER - ANNUAL REPORT July, 1976 - December, 1977 The Youth Service Bureau is an agency of South Bend government within the Department of Human Resources and Economic Development. The bureau has been in operation since 1972. It was first funded through a grant with the Law Enforce- ment Assistance Administration. Over it's years of operation the bureau has received numerous referrals for services to runaway youth. Many of the youth referred themselves. The staff tried to resolve family issues either directly or through referral. Cases of suspected neglect and abuse were referred to the St. Joseph County Department of Public Welfare. Prior to 1976 running away was a delinquent act in the State of Indiana. In resolving problems created by the act of running away, a good rapport was created with the Juvenile Aid Bureau of the South Bend Police Department. In many in- stances the department was willing to let the Youth Service Bureau staff work to get a youth home without their intervention. At other times the staff worked in conjunction with a police officer. In much the same way rapport was built with the Juvenile Probation Department. In 1976 the law in Indiana regarding runaways was changed. In Indiana run- ning away is now an act of dependency rather than delinquency. A runaway can no longer be detained in a secure facility, such as the local detention center. This law while being a positive step, placed a burden on the police, probation, and welfare departments in that there was only one facility in South Bend designed to house runaways and youth in trouble. After a series of discussions the Youth Service Bureau applied for and se- cured funds to operate a runaway shelter through the Runaway Youth Act. The funding came through the Department of Health, Education and Welfare's Office of Youth Development. Funding began in July of 1976.