NCJ Number
49419
Date Published
1975
Length
329 pages
Annotation
A TREATMENT EVALUATION MODEL IS DEVELOPED AND APPLIED TO A COMMUNITY-BASED GROUP HOME PROGRAM FOR DELINQUENT AND PREDELINQUENT YOUTHS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.
Abstract
THE TREATMENT PROGRAM AT THE COMMUNITY ATTENTION HOME CONSISTS OF INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND FAMILY COUNSELING FOR BOYS WHO EXHIBIT PROBLEM BEHAVIOR. DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS WERE DESIGNED AND USED TO MONITOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE TREATMENT PROGRAM AS SPECIFIED AND TO MEASURE THE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT ON INDIVIDUALS. EVALUATION SUBJECTS WERE FIVE BOYS ADMITTED TO THE HOME FOR 12-WEEK STAYS BETWEEN DECEMBER 2, 1974 AND APRIL 4, 1975. THE SAMPLE REPRESENTS 62 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RESIDENTS AT HOME AT ONE TIME. CASE STUDIES PREPARED FOR EACH SUBJECT CONSIST OF A TIME-SERIES DESIGN AND A PRE-POST DESIGN. THE FORMER INCLUDES GRAPHS SHOWING FREQUENCY OF PROBLEM BEHAVIORS AND INTERVENTIONS FOR EACH WEEK, TABLES SHOWING WEEKLY PROGRESS ON ACHIEVEMENT CONTRACTS, TABLES SHOWING AMOUNT OF INVOLVEMENT IN TREATMENT, AND DATES OF SUCCESS ACCORDING TO PREVIOUSLY STATED CRITERION MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF EACH PROBLEM BEHAVIOR OF EACH BOY. THE PRE-POST DESIGN INCLUDES DATA FROM STANDARDIZED TESTS ADMINISTERED BEFORE AND AFTER TREATMENT. THE EVALUATION MODEL PROVED ADEQUATE TO MEASURE EACH BOY'S PROGRESS THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND TO IDENTIFY DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN PROGRAM PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN. DATA INDICATING FAVORABLE CHANGES IN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE SUBJECTS WERE OBTAINED, AS WAS INFORMATION RELEVANT TO IMPROVING THE PROGRAM. SEPARATE STUDIES OF EACH SUBJECT, SUPPORTING DATA, AND EVALUATION INSTRUMENTS ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)