INTERACTIVE COMPUTER GAMES AND NOVELS ON THE SUBJECT OF RUNNING AWAY

THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF RUNNING AWAY BY SUPPLYING INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS. THESE WILL BE COUPLED, INTERACTIVE BOOKS AND COMPUTER GAMES THAT INVOLVE YOUNG PEOPLE IN LIFE DECISIONS, SHOW THEM CONSEQUENCES, AND PROVIDE SOURCES OF HELP FOR ALL STAGES. THE MATERIALS WILL BE TAILORED TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT READING AND SKILL LEVELS. THE SCENARIOS WILL BE BASED UPON THE EXPERIENCES OF NUMEROUS COLLABORATING CONSULTING AGENCIES AND EXPERT CONSULTANTS, PLUS FIRST-HAND OBSTERVATION. IN PHASE I, THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE PROBLEM WILL BE IDENTIFIED, AND SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE COLLECTED. AN INTERACTIVE MANUSCRIPT WILL BE COMPLETED AND ILLUSTRATED, AND A DEMONSTRATION COMPUTER PROGRAM GENERATED. DISTRIBUTION METHODS, BOTH COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENTAL, WILL BE EVALUATED. IN PHASE II, TWO COMPUTER GAMES WILL BE COMPLETED AND DISTRIBUTED WITH THE PUBLISHED INTERACTIVE NOVELS. ADDITIONAL STORIES WITH SPECIFIC TARGET GROUPS WILL BE PREPARED FOR NOVEL/GAME IMPLEMENTATION.