Summary: GAO reviewed 17 of the 169 runaway and homeless youth centers funded by the National Runaway and Homeless Youth Program to determine: who the participants in the program were, the services offered, the center environment, and what the participants, service providers, and community think about the centers' services and operations. A majority of the youths served by the centers were first-time clients from the immediate geographical area. They were referred to the center by professional service providers and accompanied to the center by service providers, parents, or relatives. Psychotic, drug addicted, and violent youths were excluded by most of the centers. The three most pressing client needs were shelter, counseling, and family involvement. These needs were met by all of the centers. The number of youths sheltered at each center varied greatly. Fifty percent of those sheltered by the centers last year returned to their families. Only 50 percent or fewer of the clients received aftercare services. The majority of the centers seemed to be well-kept, clean, and adequately furnished. Program strengths identified by the youths, parents of former clients, community members, and staff included: the existence of a shelter program, counseling and crisis intervention services, family involvement, and the positive characteristics of center staff. Program weaknesses which were identified included: inadequate funding, limited shelter capacity, not enough staff, and the limited professional experience and training of some staff members. Most parents of former clients believed that their family problems would not have been resolved without the help of a center. Expansion of outreach and prevention services, more networking with other agencies, physical improvements to the shelter, and increased activities and training for clients during their stay at the center were perceived to be the most needed improvements. The direct provision of aftercare services is still more the exception than the rule, despite congressional mandate. GAO believes that more guidance is required from Congress regarding the relative emphasis to be placed on different types of outreach activities, and further consideration should be given to how much free time is provided in the shelters and how much time should be devoted to developing youths' coping and living skills and providing structured recreational activities.
