NCJ Number
232962
Date Published
July 2002
Length
114 pages
Annotation
This report examines the results of the partnership between the New Mexico Criminal Justice Analysis Center and Juvenile Justice Division of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to assess the implementation of the EQUIP program at CYFD's Youth Diagnostic and Development Center.
Abstract
The evaluation found that, as a rule, both residents and front-line staff of the Youth Diagnostic and Development Center (YDDC) agreed that the EQUIP program, a cognitively-based positive peer group treatment strategy, had the potential to effectively build social skills and improve the behavior of residents within the institutional setting. The evaluation also found criticism of the program from both residents and staff of the YDDC. Residents felt that the program could easily be interrupted by other juveniles who did not take the program seriously, and some were uncomfortable with the program's monitoring requirements. Staff member, on the other hand, were critical of the expectation that they execute the program requirements in addition to their regular security, treatment, and custodial responsibilities. Data for this report came from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with residents and front-line staff of the YDDC. The interviews consisted of questions concerning the residents' and staffs' experiences with and perceptions of the EQUIP program, and their recommendations for changing the service model of the program. In addition, both residents and staff were administered two versions of the Correctional Institutions Environmental Scale immediately prior to and 11 months after implementation of the EQUIP program. The evaluation found that during the research period, the YDDC experienced several stressful and destabilizing conditions, resulting in the EQUIP program being implemented during a time not conducive to the success of an innovative program designed to change the values, activities, and relations of residents, staff, and administrators. The evaluation did find, however, that the program was successful in reaching many of its immediate goals. Recommendations are included for increasing integration of the program at the YDDC, enhancing program monitoring, and conducting assessments of the long-term impact of the program. Tables, figures, references, and appendixes