You asked for an updated report on Youth Service Bureaus. This report supersedes OLR Report 2000-R-0634. We also enclose a copy of the State Department of Education’s Annual Report on Youth Service Bureaus, covering the period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005. The report is online at http: //www. state. ct. us/sde/deps/family/ysb/index. htm.

SUMMARY

In 1978 the legislature created a grant program to support Youth Service Bureaus (YSBs). These are community-based organizations formed by one or more towns and run either by the towns or private agencies designated to act as their agent. Currently 100 YSBs, a great majority of which are town-run, serve 127 Connecticut communities. By law, they are responsible for evaluating, planning, coordinating, implementing, and identifying gaps in youth services, including prevention and intervention programs for predelinquent, delinquent, pregnant, parenting, and troubled youth. Youths up to age 18 may seek services on their own or be referred by schools, police, juvenile and adult courts, and parents.

Each YSB is required by regulation to have a board of at least seven members to advise and make recommendations on policy and program direction. The board is appointed by and responsible to the chief elected official of the city or town, and includes school, police department, private youth service agency representatives and at least one person under age 21.

YSBs are eligible for at least $ 14,000 per year in State Department of Education (SDE) grants which they must match; at least half of the match must come from municipal funds. In fiscal year 2004-05 the department awarded $ 2,842,000 grants, ranging from $ 14,000 to $ 157,645. Most grants were for less than $ 25,000. Appendix A lists YSB funding by source and town.

YSB FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES

By regulation, YSBs must serve both administrative and direct service functions. The administrative function includes (1) administration; (2) research; (3) resource development; (4) community involvement; (5) youth advocacy; and (6) record-keeping, program evaluation, and reporting. Required direct services are those designed to meet the needs of youth:

1. who are or potentially could be in contact with the justice system,

2. without the support or protective environment necessary for normal development, or

3. who manifest behavior which is potentially detrimental to them.

(Conn. Agency Regs. § 10 – 19m – 2).

Since YSBs are community-driven, there is wide variation in the services they provide, either directly or by contract or referral. Common services are:

1. crisis intervention;

2. individual and family counseling;

3. case management;

4. group therapy;

5. educational programs addressing drug abuse, health, human sexuality, and parenting skills;

6. job preparation programs;

7. parenting groups;

8. teen pregnancy programs;

9. school suspension/expulsion programs;

10. positive youth development programs; and

11. recreational and cultural programs.

Some YSBs are significantly involved in providing services to youth who are involved with the juvenile justice system. These include providing case management, counseling, and supervising client community service and probation in order to keep the youth in the community. Others primarily focus on prevention programs. Many offer after-school programs for elementary, middle, and high school students.

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