CALIFORNIA - GROUP HOME PROJECT - AN EXPLORATION INTO THE USE OF GROUP HOMES FOR DELINQUENTS IN A DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT SETTING

• NCJ Number: 18012
• Author(s): J W PEARSON
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 24 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH 14979
• Sponsoring Agency: California Dept of the Youth Authority; US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: California Dept of the Youth Authority
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT PROVIDES A DISCUSSION OF THE PROJECT BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE, SELECTED EXPERIENCES AND OBSERVATIONS, AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE GROUP HOMES, ADMINISTRATION, AND SELECTION OF GROUP HOME PARENTS.

Abstract

THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE GROUP HOMES PROJECT TO THE LARGER CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY TREATMENT PROJECT IS DESCRIBED. THE GOALS OF THE GROUP HOME PROJECT WERE TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING THE GROUP HOMES, TO DEVELOP A TAXONOMY OF RELEVANT GROUP HOME ENVIRONMENTS, AND TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF THE GROUP HOMES ON YOUTH. EACH TYPE OF HOME WAS TO REPRESENT AN ENVIRONMENT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE NEEDS OF CERTAIN TYPES OF DELINQUENTS. THE HOMES DEVELOPED WERE A PROTECTIVE HOME, A CONTAINMENT HOME, A BOARDING HOME, A TEMPORARY COMMUNITY CARE HOME, AND AN INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT HOME. A RESTRICTIVE HOME WAS PLANNED BUT NEVER ESTABLISHED. IT IS STATED THAT OVERALL, THE EXPERIENCES OF THE PROJECT ARE VIEWED POSITIVELY IN SPITE OF NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. BEHAVIOR CHANGES IN LONG TERM RESIDENT YOUTHS WERE FOUND TO BE POSITIVE AND SIGNIFICANT DURING THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS, BUT NEGATIVE AFTER EIGHT MONTHS. PROBLEMS IN RECRUITING AND MAINTAINING SATISFACTORY STAFF ARE DISCUSSED. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING A GROUP HOMES PROJECT ARE OFFERED, AND IT IS STATED THAT A GROUP HOMES PROJECT IS GENERALLY FELT TO BE A NECESSARY PART OF THE COMMUNITY TREATMENT PROJECT.