NCJ Number
14000
Date Published
1973
Length
7 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EMPLOYING FORMER DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES (DYS) CLIENTS (JUNIOR COUNSELORS) AS AN ADDITIONAL INPUT TO REGULAR PROBATION SERVICES.
Abstract
THE EVALUATION DESIGN UTILIZED A SERIES OF THREE QUESTIONNAIRES WHICH WERE ADMINISTERED TO THE THREE PRINCIPLE GROUPS OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS FOLLOWING THE TERMINATION OF THE PROGRAM. QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO 1) THOSE REGULAR DYS YOUTH COUNSELORS WHO SUPERVISED THE WORK OF THE JUNIOR COUNSELORS, 2) THE JUNIOR COUNSELORS THEMSELVES, AND 3) THOSE DYS YOUTHS WHO PARTICIPATED IN TREATMENT GROUPS WHICH WERE LEAD BY JUNIOR COUNSELORS. ALL THREE GROUPS QUESTIONED RESPONDED TO THE PROGRAM IN A POSITIVE AND APPRECIATIVE MANNER. THE JUNIOR COUNSELOR, WITH HIS EXPERIENCE UNDER DYS SUPERVISION AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE YOUTH COMMUNITY WAS VIEWED AS A SIGNIFICANT AID IN BRIDGING THE COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN YOUTH COUNSELOR AND CHILD. QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS FROM THE THREE GROUPS SURVEYED ARE REPORTED IN DETAIL, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAM MODIFICATION SUCH AS A MORE STRUCTURED TRAINING PROGRAM FOR JUNIOR COUNSELORS ARE GIVEN. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)