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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAuthorizing 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 1974Attest: RESOLUTION NO. 610 -78 Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, Attest: April 10 Clerk President of Common Council. Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, indiana April 11 19 78 City Clerk Approved and signed by me & / /. 19 17 F. Mayor RESOLUTION NO. CQ i0 fl A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, 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, AS AMENDED. WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of South Bend is the Chief Executive Officer of the City, and is the Applicant for HEW funding under Title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana that: SECTION I. The Mayor of the City of South Bend is hereby authorized to submit an application for Title III funds in the amount of Fifty Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($52,500) to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare under Title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended. SECTION II. The Executive Director of the Youth Service Bureau shall be designated the Administrative Agent for this grant. For every category established under this Resolution, the Mayor shall submit to the Common Council a line item budget prior to the expenditures of any grant money received upon approval of this application. SECTION III. This and effect from and after its and approval of the Mayor. PRESENTED NOT APPROVED ADOPTED i0 -- ? ? resolution shall be in full force adoption by the Common Council Member of the Common Council I signed only to provide an Opportunity for public discussion and Council action on the issue. 19LERK'S iC 11 ri 6LE APR 41978 .01 Gammon �7 CITY of SOUTH BEND PETER J. NEMETH, Mayor COUNTY CITY BUILDING SOUTH BEND. INDIANA 46601 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Carl Ellison Director Jon R. Hunt Deputy Director To: Members of the Common Council From: Bonnie C. Strycker Re: Grant Application Date: April 2, 1978 219/284 -9335 The Youth Service Bureau has operated a shelter for runaway and otherwise homeless youth since July of 1976. As indicated in the enclosed annual report of the runaway shelter, 212 youth were in residence during the eighteen month period ending December 31, 1977. Because the shelter is a component of the bureau, youth and their families have access to services delivered by the bureau such as counseling, outreach, employment, etc. The bureau because of its relationship with other area agencies can also refer for services to the appropriate agencies. Over the nearly two years the shelter has been opened the great majority of youth in residence have been from South Bend or St. Joseph County. The national profile of a runaway is a white, middle class, 15 year old female. Our shelter has found that 51% of all youth referred are male. The average age is 15 years old. The grant requires a 10% match. This match is in in -kind services from the following agencies: Department of Public Welfare, the Juvenile Probation Depart- ment, Y.W.C.A. of St. Joseph County, Legal Services of Northern Indiana, Family and Children's Center and the Mental Health Center. BCS /jr 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. The bureau was fortunate in that a suitable facility for the shelter was im- mediately available. The Y.W.C.A. of St. Joseph County operated a group home for girls at 520 North Lafayette. The home was forced to close due to funding diffi- culties. Almost all interior work has been done to have it licensed as a group home by the State Department of Public Welfare. The home is near the downtown area. It is on a bus line and generally easily accessible. As described in the following pages it is a very spacious home. The third floor of the house is reserved exclusively for the use of the live -in coun- selors. The bureau was fortunate to have the full cooperation and technical assistance of a great many people actively involved in the community. Consultation services are provided by the following agencies: Juvenile Probation Department, Department of Public Welfare, the Family and Childrens Center, The Y.W.C.A., the Mental Health Center, and Legal Services of St. Joseph County. These consultative services con- stitute the in -kind contribution required through our grant with H.E.W. In addition to these agencies the Youth Service Bureau executive committee provides active guidance to the bureau and specifically to the operation of the runaway shelter. The shelter seeks to serve the multi -needs of runaways and youth in trouble. Youth are referred to us in a variety of ways. As we've become better known youth either come to the bureau or the shelter itself. The police agencies (South Bend, Mishawaka, St. Joseph County and Indiana State Police) use the facility regularly. The Department of Public Welfare uses the shelter as a temporary home for youth awaiting placement in foster or group homes, as well as those awaiting placement in an institution. No youth awaiting placement in a correctional facility is placed at the shelter. The shelter can house ten youth. A working agreement with the Y.W.C.A. pro- vides temporary housing on occasion when there is an overflow. The shelter pro- vides room and board for all residents. In addition individual and family coun- r: seling is provided. Group sessions are provided twice weekly. These sessions are voluntary. One resident is selected as leader for each session. The group is re- latively unstructured which linds itself to allowing residents to discuss anything of concern. Topics include problems with parents, problems with girl and boy- friends, attitudes and values, and problems residents encounter living day to day at the shelter. A frequent topic is relationship problems with shelter peers. The group is seen as a good way to allow youth to vent fears and frustrations in a non - threatening atmosphere. As soon as a youth is admitted, a Youth Service Bureau outreach worker is as- signed, parents are notified and the process of decision making begins. Outreach workers are required to have daily contact with clients. The effect is to lessen the frustrations felt by both parents and youth. The shelter provides the residents with a monthly educational program. Repre- sentatives from the Armed Forces, Bureau of Employment and Training, Planned Parent- hood, to name a few discuss with residents how they can use their agencies for their own betterment. All residents enrolled in local schools must attend. The residents are given bus money and in some cases, rides are provided by the Bureau staff. A daily at- tendance check is made to insure that residents are in fact in school. Many of our residents experience academic difficulties. A tutoring program has been in- stituted to provide academic assistance. The philosophy of the runaway shelter is the same as that of the Youth Service Bureau. All people are respected as individuals with their own sets of experiences and a unique perception of their world and their place in it. It is vital that staff understand and respect that uniqueness. Every possible effort is made to return the youth to his natural family. The family is the basic unit of American life, and as such, when possible, must be preserved. It is also believed that young people can make responsible decisions. Youth 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 11 11 REFERRAL SOURCE Department of Public Welfare 76 State Police 3 Self 40 Mishawaka. Police Department 2 Parkview 25 N.I.D.A.S. 2 South Bend Police Department 24 School 2 Hope Rescue 13 Legal Aid 1 Friend/Related 9 Parent 1 St. Joe County Police 8 Family & Childrens Center 1 National Runaway Switchboard 5 AGE Under 11: 1 78 15: 52 11: 3 Ran 16: 48 12: 4 6 17: 23 13: 24 Detention 18: 11 14: 39 21 Older: 7 5 PRESENTING PROBLEM Parents &/or siblings 61 Abuse 7 Problems with placement 33 Drugs 5 Mother 30 Problem with independent living 5 Need Shelter 20 Home Environment 5 Personal & Emotional Problems 17 Stepparent 4 Kicked out of home 13 Problems with a relative 2 Father 10 DISPOSITION TO Home 78 Group Home 18 Ran 30 R.J.C.P. 6 Relative 24 Detention 6 Foster Home 21 Institution 5 Independent Living 21 Removed from shelter 3 As can be seen by the statistics a large number of youth run because of pro- blems with parents. Of that number most return home. While the national profile of a runaway is a white, fifteen year old female, the shelter has housed slightly more males than females. Fifteen and sixteen year olds were seen more frequently than any other age group. The overwhelming majority of runaways and youth in crisis were caucasion. The shelter received more referrals from the Department of Public Welfare than from any other single source. Self referrals were the next highest source. Reasons listed for the runaway or crisis are onlZ the problems initially pre- sented. Often underlying problems are discovered as a youth is being worked with. For example, the Welfare Department may .refer a youth who was unsuccessful in a foster home placement. An underlying problem may be the youth's aggressive be- havior. During it's first eighteen months of operation many problems have been en- countered and resolved. In April a staff person with the Porter County Youth Ser- vice Bureau spent a day helping clarify problems and making corrections in the structure and staffing pattern. Relief counselors for the two full -time living counselors remains a critical need. This is being met with the use of volunteers. The major problem remains discipline. Residents are usually under a great deal of stress which is displayed in a variety of negative ways. Another problem is the personality conflicts, jealousies, etc., between residents, that erupt in disagreements and fights. The house rules are structured so that there is a con- sequence for negative behavior. However a number of things, such as derogatory comments, etc., are hard to deal with and often lead to trouble. Theft in the house is a problem that occurs periodically. Residents are advised to lock their valuables on the third floor. This prevents some problems, but accusations are still made. Without proof it is difficult to identify and discipline the guilty party. The bureau is fortunate to have a Youth Advisory Board. The board is com- posed of former Youth Service Bureau clients and shelter residents. They spon- sored a Christmas tree decorating party at the shelter as well as other social events. They also did some redecorating in the bedrooms. They are interested in running some peer influence group counseling sessions concentrating on middle school youth. An educational program in the middle schools discussing the rami- fications of running away is being considered for the month of April, 1978. They are an active, enthusiastic group of young people. Their input is invaluable. They benefit from the board by learning about organizational structure, group decision - making and how to implement plans.