NCJ Number
57730
Date Published
1979
Length
33 pages
Annotation
DESCRIBED ARE THE KEY FEATURES, FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CLARK COUNTY, WA., FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION UNIT WHICH PROVIDES SERVICES TO STATUS OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION METHOD IS BASED ON TWO CENTRAL PREMISES: (1) MOST ADOLESCENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES REFERRED TO JUVENILE COURT ARE IN THE STATE OF CRISIS AND THE CRISIS CAN BE A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMOTING GROWTH AND CHANGE LEADING TO PROBLEM RESOLUTION, AND (2) THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY ADOLESCENTS REFERRED TO JUVENILE COURTS ARE FAMILY PROBLEMS. THE INTERVENTION UNIT OFFERS THREE TYPES OF SERVICES--REFERRAL TO AN APPROPRIATE AGENCY (E.G., MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC), INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, AND FAMILY MULTIPLE IMPACT SESSIONS WITH VOLUNTEER THERAPISTS. CHILDREN ARE REFERRED TO THE UNIT BY THE DETENTION CENTER IF THEY HAVE NO MORE THAN FOUR OFFENSES; THEY CAN SELECT ONE OF THESE SERVICES WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CRISIS COUNSELOR. VOLUNTEERS WORK IN TEAMS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR EMPLOYED BY THE JUVENILE COURT AND UNDER THE TECHNICAL DIRECTION OF THE CRISIS COUNSELOR. AN EVALUATION OF THE CLARK COUNTY MODEL, COMPARING RECIDIVISM RATES OF PARTICIPANTS WITH THOSE OF A CONTROL GROUP, REVEALED A MUCH LOWER REPEAT OFFENSE RATE FOR PARTICIPANTS. THE MODEL IS INEXPENSIVE, POTENTIALLY EFFECTIVE FOR MODIFYING THE DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY SYSTEM, AND IS TRANSFERRABLE TO OTHER LOCATIONS. APPENDIXES PRESENT THE UNIT'S ORGANIZATION CHART, DESCRIPTIONS FOR VOLUNTEER JOBS, AND THREE CLIENT CASES STUDIES. (DAG)