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� The Youth Advocate Pro�ram Inc. <br /> �- <br /> BOARD OF DIRECTORS <br /> John Mickler, President <br /> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Linda Rowden,Vice-Presideut <br /> Michael Warner, MS.Ed, LCPC,CADC George Hill,Treasurer <br /> Susan Rayhill, Secretary <br /> John Biedler <br /> Joan Brown <br /> Chief James Anderson Renazdo Hall <br /> LuAnn Hollon <br /> Decatur Police Department Carolyn Jarrett <br /> 333 S. Franklin St. Cluney John <br /> Decatur, IL 62523 Lori Long <br /> Jason Walker <br /> 6-4-10 <br /> Dear Chief Anderson, <br /> As we enter into a difficult State funding climate, it is increasingly more important that <br /> the Youth Advocate Program continues to receive the funds necessary to provide <br /> adequate programming to high risk populations. The Youth Advocate Program has <br /> depended on the Decatur Police Department(DPD) and the City of Decatur since 1989 to <br /> ensure adequate match money for our Crisis Intervention Program. When DPD provides <br /> $6,000 in match money the Youth Advocate Program(YAP) is able to secure $33,000 <br /> from the Department of Human Services. If this amount is reduced or eliminated it will <br /> surely jeopardize aur future State funding! <br /> The following is a summary of the Crisis Intervention Program and the services that YAP <br /> provides to DPD and the City of Decatur: <br /> The target population for this initiative includes youth who are runaways or who have <br /> been denied access to their homes(lockouts). These youth are referred by local police <br /> departments and other law enforcement officials. The youth must be under eighteen <br /> yeazs of age. There is no distinction made in our response due to race, ethnicity, standard <br /> of living, sex, or family composition. The Youth Advocate Program, Inc. receives <br /> approximately siac to seven calls per month involving a youth and family in crisis. YAP <br /> is the only agency within Macon County that responds to this population. Many of the <br /> youth return home upon receiving short-term crisis intervention services. Some youth <br /> may require temporary placement for up to 48 hours and beyond if the family crisis <br /> cannot be resolved. YAP is able to provide a temporary living arrangement for those <br /> youth who cannot return home upon referral from the police department. Once a refenal <br /> is received from the police department, a YAP Crisis Worker will respond by phone <br /> within thirty minutes of the initial request for help and wiil respond in person within one <br /> hour. The youth is, at this time, in limited custody of law enforcement, allowing the <br /> worker to determine the problem, review the options, and develop a mutually acceptable <br /> plan with the youth and the parents/legal guardians. The permanency goals are family <br /> preservation ar reunification, with a time frame, alternative placements(cooling off , � <br /> 202 East Eldorado Street Suite A Decatur, Illinois 62523 � Y'�� <br /> Phone (217) 422-7864 — F� (217) 422-1324 ����� <br /> Website www.youuthadvocatepro�ram.or� <br />