NCJ Number
46609
Journal
Juvenile Justice Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 47-59
Date Published
1977
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE PROGRAM'S SETTING, PHILOSOPHY, AND TREATMENT METHODS AND STRATEGIES; AN EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM; AND IMPLICATIONS DRAWN FROM THE OBSERVATIONS ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
THE GROUP HOME STUDIED WAS FOUNDED IN 1970, AND LICENSED BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS A CHILDREARING FACILITY. THE HOME IS LOCATED IN A RURAL TOWNSHIP OF APPROXIMATELY 2,000 PEOPLE. THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS THE HOME AND ITS AIMS, AND THE HOUSE AND PROPERTY WERE PROVIDED BY A LOCAL CHURCH. BOYS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 17 ARE ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM, BASED ON PERSONAL NEED AS ESTABLISHED THROUGH A SCREENING PROCEDURE. PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION ABOUT ENTERING THE HOME. NO MORE THAN 6 BOYS ARE ACCOMMODATED AT THE HOME AT ONE TIME. THE HOME AIMS TO PROVIDE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL PRODUCE SELF-CONFIDENCE AND ADAPTIVE CONFORMITY TO SOCIETY. THE TREATMENT PROCESS CENTERS AROUND THE GROUP HOME, THE SCHOOL AND THE COMMUNITY, THUS ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE CLIENTS MAY LATER LIVE. EACH BOY IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND SCHOOL, WHERE EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, WHETHER FOR A TRADITIONAL PROGRAM, SPECIAL EDUCATION, OR VOCATIONAL TRAINING. CLOSE ATTENTION IS PAID TO PERFORMANCE, WHILE THE COMMUNICATION OF NEGATIVE JUDGMENTS THAT MAY REINFORCE LOW SELF-ESTEEM IS AVOIDED. IN THE AREA OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, CLIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK AT SOME PART-TIME JOB DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND TO WORK FULL-TIME DURING THE SUMMER. IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HOME, THE CULTIVATION OF STAFF AND PEER RELATIONSHIPS IS FOSTERED BY SHARED RECREATIONAL AND WORK EXPERIENCES. GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING ARE ALSO IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS OF THE HOME EXPERIENCE. THE EVALUATION COHORT CONSISTED OF 17 BOYS WHO COMPLETED OR TERMINATED THEIR TREATMENT DURING THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1971 TO JUNE 1974. THESE CATEGORIES OF YOUTH WERE INCLUDED: OFFICIALLY ADJUDICATED DELINQUENTS, PERSONS IN NEED OF SUPERVISION, AND DEPENDENCY CASES. THE MEASURE OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS WAS THE COMMISSION OF OFFENSES AFTER RELEASE FROM THE HOME. THE RECIDIVISM RATE WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS AFTER TREATMENT WAS 5.9 PERCENT, AND AFTER 1 YEAR, THE RATE WAS 29.4 PERCENT. ALL FOUR OF THE YOUTHS WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD SPENT TIME IN AN INSTITUTION RECIDIVATED, BUT IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THEIR FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE HOME HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL NOT ONLY IN REDUCING ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL JUVENILE MISCONDUCT, BUT ALSO IN REHABILITATING THOSE WHO HAD EXHIBITED EXTENSIVE HISTORIES OF MISCONDUCT AND DELINQUENCY. THE COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT APPROACH IS CONSIDERED MORE EFFECTIVE THAN INSTITUTIONALIZATION. TABLES SHOWING EVALUATION DATA ARE INCLUDED.