The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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Q. Do you ever learn the disposition of the children who are referred to
that agency (IYA)
A. They’ll report back that they’ve offered services or that they tried to
contact the family and that they’ve gotten no response or. . .Yeah, they
respond back. Basically, the complaint is dismissed when we hand them
off to them but that is for, it was quite often either a first time or a minor
offense like a simple misdemeanor type offenses that we were giving them
anyway. I mean it’s nothing that we would have done much with anyway,
other than maybe calling them in and talking to them and finding out,
doing our social investigation and then dismissing it. But by referring to
Indian Youth of America, they may have gotten extensive services. Much
more than we would have done in the first place.
Q. In general that happens
A. That they would get more services The services are offered. How
cooperative or how accepting the family was of them, I don’t know. Indian
Youth would have to answer that question. They would report back if
they’ve contacted the family and offered services. We just would not be
sure as to what extent that was accepted by the family...
Q. Do you receive a written report or something after each case you send
them
A. Mmhm (yes).
Q. And usually what they offer the family is more than what you would
A. I would say so, overall.
Q. But you don’t know if that’s ever been followed up And the family is
under no obligation to do what this authority tells them to do
A. Right. But I’ve gotten responses from the agency saying that they,
they’re contacting the family or they have contacted the family...
I’ve gotten a written referral back on every kid I’ve ever sent over there.
But whether or not, I mean I don’t follow up on those kids, so I really
don’t know how in depth they go,.. .I’m not real familiar with their
services other than they do go out to the homes and visit with the kids and
the family, if the family will let them.