NCJ Number
147101
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 45 Issue: 1 Dated: (1994) Pages: 33-42
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article documents the problems encountered by one court jurisdiction (16th Judicial Circuit, Kane County, Ill.) when it attempted to develop and administer its own residential treatment facility in its detention facility.
Abstract
The program failed because the balance between safety and trust-building could not be achieved. This occurred because the program director, court service hierarchy, and child care workers' theory and philosophy of change contrasted with the therapists' philosophy and because the program philosophy was self-contradictory. Consequently, staff workers could not be hired, trained, or evaluated primarily as residential treatment workers. Because of the scarce funding and resources allocated to residential treatment, there will be other attempts to develop residential treatment programs within the court system. If these programs are to be successful, they must have one guiding philosophy to which all workers subscribe. Hiring and training must be done according to that philosophy. Also, every aspect of the program must take into account the program's theory of change. 18 references