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The Homeless Youth Intervention Program
(program), administered by the Department of Economic Security (DES), began in
January 2000 to serve Arizona’s homeless youth who are under the age of 18 and
are not being served by Child Protective Services (CPS) or the juvenile
justice system. The program’s goal is to reunify homeless youths with their
families. When that is not possible, the program works to help youths become
self-sufficient.
One-half of the youths were either
reunified with their families or designated self-sufficient when they left the
program. However, many of these youths come from families with serious,
long-term problems, including physical and sexual abuse and alcohol and/or
other drug problems, and could easily become homeless again. To address these
issues, the program needs to focus on addressing youths’ critical behavioral
needs and increase their families’ involvement in the process. In addition,
DES should more closely monitor program costs and make adjustments to
capitated rates as needed.
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