NCJ Number
114702
Date Published
1989
Length
26 pages
Annotation
The focus, objectives, and content of treatment programs for juvenile offenders and their families are examined following a review of family factors in juvenile delinquency (e.g., lax or erratic discipline, child abuse).
Abstract
Family-focused treatment approaches attempt to reduce juvenile delinquency by improving family functioning. Family therapy may be used as a component of diversion programs, a means of avoiding out-of-home placement, an adjunct to residential treatment, or as part of prerelease or aftercare programming. Treatment must work to overcome family resistance to treatment, recognize both parents' and youth's concerns and objectives, have highly competent staff and supervision, and be flexible. Most programs assign one therapist to work with a family for 1 hour per week, although a number of innovative staffing and scheduling patterns have been used. Treatment approaches may include short-term crisis intervention, family systems models, behavioral contracting, effective parenting education, or a combination of these. Most programs provide counseling to the whole family unit. Evaluations of family therapies have suffered from methodological problems and produced mixed results. 8 discussion questions and 76 references.