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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are involved in all levels of decision - making as it relates to their own future. It is up to the Youth Service Bureau outreach worker to help the young person de- velop decision - making skills. A great deal of attention is given to the runaway youth. It is important to be cognizant of the fears, frustrations, and anxiety of the parents of runaways. Often anger and frustration is vented on the Youth Service Bureau staff. The staff is expected to give as much support to the parent as possible. All per- tinent information and decisions are shared with parents and youth. It is often difficult to maintain the delicate balance of being confidant to both parent and young person. As much as possible joint meetings of parents and youth are planned. - Youth run for a number of reasons. The reasons most frequently heard are "my parents don't understand me," "we just don't get along," "I have too many home responsibilities and not enough freedom." Once in awhile we receive a referral on a youth who is physically, sexually, or emotionally abused or neglected. En- vironmental problems of one sort or another lead to a runaway episode. Youth run from homes where the marriage is unstable, where the use of alcohol or drugs is abused by parents, or where there is an emotionally unstable parent. Often there is little or no communication between a parent and child. Over this eighteen month period a total of 212 youth have stayed at the shel- ter. Some residents, due to placement problems have returned to the shelter a second or third time. In some cases youth have run from the shelter, and have chosen to return. A second chance is usually given. A third chance is a little more rare, but does happen. The following is a breakdown by sex, race, age, referral source, presenting problems and disposition. MALE: 110 FEMALE: 102 TOTAL: 212 WHITE: 181 BLACK: 27 CHICANO: 4 TOTAL: 212