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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03171987 - S.3 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on March 17, 1987 by the following vote: AYES; Supervisors Fanden, Schroder, Torlakson, McPeak NOES; None ABSENT; Supervisor Powers ABSTAIN; None ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT; Services for Runaway Youth Supervisor Robert Schroder transmitted to the Board the attached Concept Paper on services available to runaway youth in Contra Costa County, and recommended that a workshop be scheduled to discuss this issue. IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that Supervisor Schroder is REQUESTED to prepare the format for the proposed workshop on ..services for runaway youth for the Board' s consideration. cc: Supervisor Schroder County Administrator Probation Department Sheriff Social Services Director Health Services Director I hereby certify that this Is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: PHIL BAT C , C.zr of the Board of Supervisors apd Ccu.n'y Administrator By , Deputy SERVICES FOR RUNAWAY YOUTH IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY A Concept Paper BACKGROUND Prior to 1976 minors who ran away or were beyond the control of their parents were frequently arrested and detained in Juvenile Hall along with delinquent youth. The Probation Department pro- vided counseling to 1 ,000 families a year. Law changes have pro- hibited placing these youth in Juvenile Hall. In 1978 emergency shelter and services for non-delinquent youth were shifted to the Children' s Home Society through a contract with the Probation Department. In the period 1977 through 1983, law enforcement intervention in these matters waned, but since then the number of youth coming to the attention of the police for runaway and being beyond control has dramatically increased. It is estimated that there are at least 2,000 youth per year who are in need of emergency housing, crisis counseling or both due to family conflicts. Referrals to Youth Crisis Services (Sherman House) have increased 62% since 1982-83 . Since 1985 there have been several times when Sherman House has been full, and referrals from law enforcement agencies have been rejected in over 150. incidents to date. The Sheriff and Police Chiefs of the County concur that the absence of appropriate shelter and crisis counseling frequently results in acceleration of the child's problem, and often leads to delinquent acts or exploitation. Research studies indicate that children who runaway have often been abused in their home, suffer from serious family dysfunction and many become homeless "street kids" absent services and early intervention. CURRENT SERVICES Through a contract with the Children' s Home Society, the Probation Department provides the only emergency residential center and related crisis intervention services for runaway children. Services consist of a six bed facility, Sherman House, in Pleasant Hill, one emergency foster home in West County, and brief crisis counseling. The contract is insufficient to provide current services and CHS has secured a small Federal grant to supplement the County' s cost. - .2 - THE PROBLEM As the County population grows and as families become less able to resolve their internal conflicts without assistance, there has been an increasing number of youth who come to the attention of the police. Some are observed on the streets while others come to the police seeking aid and assistance. Existing emergency housing is limited to seven youth at any given time at present. These resources are not sufficient to meet the needs of 2,000 youth a year among the County's 717,000 residents. Due to restricted resources, the current intake policy restricts referrals to those from justice agencies. Direct family referrals seeking aid would increase workload beyond the present level of about 550 per year. This paucity of resources has, with increasing frequency, resulted in the need to reject referrals of youth in need of assistance. In such incidents the police may "relabel" the child as a depen- dent or delinquent in order to provide housing, but in some incidents there are no housing or counseling alternatives. Those youth not aided may eventually be arrested for a crime, may be exploited by adult criminals or may gravitate to San Francisco. None of these alternatives is acceptable or worthy of Contra Costa County. THE NEEDS 1. There is a need for a community commitment to provide the barest essential services for these youth who have been victimized by their environment and social .standing. 2. There is a need for a mandate that a County agency be responsible for the provision of a coordinated service system which will: a. Provide adequate short-term emergency housing. b. Provide short-term crisis and family counseling. C. Maximize use . of .all available community resources. d. Provide coordination and cooperation among the several disciplines interacting with runaway youth (Police, Probation, Social Services, Mental Health, Drug Abuse, etc. ) . 3 - 3 . There is a need for resource expansion through a blended effort of Federal and local government funding, coupled with the business and corporate community and individual contributions. 4. There is a need for youth and families to be aware of and have direct access to services which can help them resolve their problems. A PLAN OF ACTION A. Immediate Actions Needed: 1. Develop a Master Plan for the provision of services to non-delinquent youth in need. 2. The Board of Supervisors should designate the County Probation officer as the agent of the County responsible for the provision and coordination of services for run- away and beyond control youth in Contra Costa County. 3. In the spirit of public-private partnership, resources to meet the needs of these youth should be provided through ..a community development effort. 4. Current services should be augmented to a level which would preclude rejection of referrals. This could be accomplished by adding three additional emergency foster homes, two additional family counselors and two addi- tional child care staff. 5. Additional counseling space should be provided at Sherman House to meet the current and projected needs for staff work space and to encourage the expanded utilization of volunteers, student interns and others to augment professional staff. B. Long Range Actions Needed: 1. A second emergency receiving six bed home for runaways is needed in either East County or West County areas. Such a facility would best serve the need if it were designed and constructed specifically for its function. It should be homelike, but also provide counseling and recreational areas. Such a facility should be County owned or leased and could, perhaps, be built on County property. The facility should be operated via contract. 4 - 2. A network of more emergency foster homes should be acquired to guarantee no rejection of referrals and to provide for extended residential care when appropriate and needed. A total of 12 foster homes are projected to be needed. This would provide a total of at least 24 beds. 3 . Sufficient family counselors and child care staff should be available to ( 1) meet the needs of youth in residence at shelter facilities and foster homes, ( 2) provide outreach services to intervene in the total community, ( 3 ) provide follow-up counseling, and (4) provide preventative services. 4. Interagency - interdiscipline assessment panels should be operative in each region of the County as is now provided by the West Contra Costa County Youth Services Bureau. 5. A County .Runaway Hotline should be established, marketed and publicized by the principle provider of Youth Crisis Services. 6. To encourage a broader base of interest, funding and support, Youth Crisis Services should establish an advisory committee with representatives from the building trades, service clubs, private agencies, volunteers, youth and others. 7 . To develop a system for recruiting, training and utiliz- ing additional student interns and volunteers. AN OPPORTUNITY Contra Costa has an opportunity to plan and develop a model of enriched programs for youth desperately in need of early inter- vention services. The concepts outlined here feature a whole community effort directed to a real population, identified youth at risk. No prevention effort could be more rewarding in humane values, preservation of the family unit, and also be cost effective considering the vast expenditures of justice services after the fact. Something real must be done to offset the burgeoning cost of police, jails, courts and probation services. These concepts offer an alternative. GSB:ds 2/25/87