NCJ Number
129914
Journal
Children and Youth Services Review Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: (1990) Pages: 193-212
Date Published
1990
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Family characteristics, service characteristics, and treatment outcomes were examined for 159 families referred for status offenses or juvenile delinquency to 8 family-based placement prevention programs.
Abstract
A high incidence of parent-child, marital, and family relationship problems occurred. Three-fourths of the families had problems with parent-child conflict and about half with child's peer relations, family relationships, and marital or adult relationships. Few experienced problems with substance abuse, sexual abuse, and physical abuse. Family-based services were significantly more successful in preventing placement if the highest-risk child attended most or all of the treatment sessions and was enrolled in a regular class in school. Substance abuse was significantly the most important predictor of placement in delinquency cases and prior placement significantly the most important predictor in status offense cases. Three-fourths of the families were intact at the time their case was closed. Office-based programs in public agencies reported the lowest placement rates. The study findings support the use of family-based services with juvenile justice problems. 38 references and 5 tables (Author abstract modified)