LOCAL SURVEY RESULTS INDICATE NEED FOR S.T.A.R.S. MENTORING PROGRAM :
As part of the research needed to direct the efforts of the Foundation, the agency examined data from across the nation regarding foster care, runaways and the break down of the family network looking for patterns, common concerns, services, and answers. The agency also conducted research regarding the number of calls and reasons for calls to the Runaway Switchboard. Information provide by Runaway Switchboard provided the following data:
Homeless Youth
Estimate of 1.3 million runaway and homeless youth nationally
55% of homeless youth are males
45% of homeless youth are females
60% of homeless youth are white
25% of homeless youth are black
15% of homeless youth are Hispanic/other
Runaway Youth:
65% of runaways are female
35% of runaways are males
70% White
18% Black
13% Hispanic/other
Reasons why they leave:
39% Leave because of family dynamics
12% Leave because of peer pressure
9% Leave because of abuse
5% leave because of alcohol/drug abuse
35% leave for various other reasons
In order to get an idea of the attitudes regarding the magnitude of the problems of runaway, homeless, and street youth as viewed by teens and the general public in Jefferson County, the agency conducted a series of three surveys. One survey involved teens and the causes prompting youth to run. The survey contained nine (9) questions and a list of items for the youth to check and/or provide a written response. The second survey examined knowledge of and attitudes of service providers and educators, and the third survey examined the awareness level of the general public in terms of the intensity of the problem and the impact on the community. These surveys contained five (5) questions with a list to check and or provide a written response. The results of all three surveys were very telling, and cemented, for the agency, the need to establish a S.T.A.R.S. Basic Center Leadership and Mentoring Program. The results of the local surveys mirror concerns identified through national surveys conducted by agencies such as: Covenant House Florida, National Runaway Switchboard, Nemours Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Justice.
My Father’s House Foundation, Inc. is currently working with DHR to provide mentoring and life skills services for older foster teens. This synergy will serve as a model for other agencies seeking to unite community stakeholders with service providers in an effort to better prepare and educate youth and young adults for the future. The current program provides assistance to youth exiting the system either as a result of graduation or emancipation. The experience and knowledge the agency has gained as a result of working with this at-risk population will allow us to better meet the needs of all youth.