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Services To At-Risk Youth (STAR) Program

The Services to At-Risk Youth (STAR) Program provides services to youth in at-risk situations and their families. The purpose of the program is to reduce family conflict and to prevent the problems of runaway, truancy and delinquent behaviors by:

• helping youths and their families resolve crises that threaten their capacity to live together;
• helping youths and their families develop skills to cope with problems and stresses in their homes;
• helping parents resume and maintain their parental responsibility; and
• providing short term placement for youths whose immediate return home is not advisable.

Originally established as a demonstration project in 1983 to serve runaway and truant youth, the program has expanded from its original 12 sites to 54 contracts providing services in all 254 counties by the end of 1998.

Services Provided

• Individual and/or family counseling
• Skills-based training, including communication, problem-solving, and anger management training
• Crisis intervention
• Parent education
• Collaboration with other youth-serving agencies
• Case management linking families to additional resources
• Emergency residential placement

Client Eligibility

The following youth and their families are eligible for services funded under the STAR program:
At-Risk Youth who are 0-17 who meet one of the following criteria:

• Runaway Youth- a youth who has left home without parental permission or who has no identifiable residence. Youth whose parents or caretakers have told them to leave or who have consented to their departures.
• Truant Youth- a youth who has been voluntary absent from school for reasons other than those accepted by the school where he/she are enrolled.
• Youth in family conflict or who has experienced neglect.
• Parent education
• Delinquent youth.

Exceptions: Youths who are on adjudicated probation or have a current CPS investigation are not eligible for these services.

There is no charge for STAR Services.

Locations

 

The STAR program is administered by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Department of Prevention and Early Intervention.

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