NCJ Number
66317
Date Published
Unknown
Length
71 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DISCUSSES THE OBJECTIVES, ORGANIZATION, COMPONENTS, AND SUCCESS OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI, FAMILY TREATMENT UNIT (FTU), WHICH HANDLES JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS BROUGHT TO COURT.
Abstract
THE FTU WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 DUE TO THE GROWING BELIEF THAT STATUS OFFENDERS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS CRIMINALLY DELINQUENT AND SHOULD NOT BE FREQUENTLY REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES. FURTHER, SOCIAL SERVICE HAD BEGUN TO BELIEVE THAT STATUS OFFENDING BY YOUTH WAS DUE TO TROUBLES AND UNRESOLVED CONFLICTS IN THE FAMILY. THUS, FTU SEEKS TO REDUCE NUMBERS OF YOUTH PLACED IN STATE INSTITUTIONS AND GROUP HOMES AND REDUCE ESCALATING DELINQUENCY PATTERNS AMONG STATUS OFFENDERS THROUGH PROVIDING FAMILY THERAPY, HELPING KEEP THE FAMILY INTACT, TRAINING FOSTER PARENTS FOR THOSE JUVENILES WHO MUST BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES, AND CONSULTING WITH AND TRAINING OTHER COURT PERSONNEL. THE COURTS DECIDE WHICH FAMILIES TO REFER TO FTU, BASED ON ASSESSMENTS OF MARITAL PROBLEMS, COMMUNICATIONS DIFFICULTIES, OR GENERAL FAMILY INSTABILITY WITHIN THE FAMILY; COURTS MAY OR MAY NOT MANDATE TREATMENT. FTU RECEIVES THE MOST DIFFICULT FAMILY CASES. TWO MODES OF THERAPY ARE OFFERED, ONE LASTING 3.5 TO 7 WEEKS, THE OTHER A MORE INTENSE 6 WEEKS. BOTH MODES ARE DESCRIBED, AND FTU'S RECORDKEEPING, RESEARCH, AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COURT ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. DURING ITS SECOND YEAR, FTU HANDLED 185 FAMILIES. INCLUDED EVALUATIONS OF FTU INDICATE IT IS MEETING ITS GOALS. APPENDIXES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED.