FUN AND THERAPY - CONSUMER AND SOCIAL WORKER PERCEPTIONS OF INTERMEDIATE TREATMENT

• NCJ Number: 68665
• Author(s): R JONES
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 44 pages
• Sale Source: National Youth Bureau
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: IT (INTERMEDIATE TREATMENT) PAPERS

Annotation

THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE ATTITUDES OF JUVENILE CLIENTS, THEIR PARENTS, AND CASEWORKERS TOWARD FIVE BRITISH COMMUNITY-BASED DELINQUENCY TREATMENT PROGRAMS WHICH EMPHASIZED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

Abstract

THE GROUPS, WHICH MET IN THE SUMMER OF 1976, WERE LOCATED IN FOUR GEOGRAPHIC AREAS (FACTORY TOWN, TOURIST TOWN, MARKET TOWN, RURAL TOWN). GROUPS MET FOR SEVERAL HOURS EACH WEEK. LEADERS WERE VOLUNTEER SOCIAL WORKERS. STUDY DATA WERE GATHERED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WHICH USED QUESTIONNAIRES. A TOTAL OF 39 ADOLESCENTS, 31 PARENTS, AND 40 CASEWORKERS WERE INTERVIEWED. THEY REPRESENTED FROM 89 PERCENT TO 100 PERCENT OF THE POTENTIAL RESPONDENTS IN EACH CATEGORY. THE JUVENILES' MEAN AGE WAS 13.5 YEARS. SIXTEEN JUVENILES WERE UNDER COURT ORDERS; OTHERS HAD CONTACT WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AS A RESULT OF FAMILY CARE OR VOLUNTARY SUPERVISION. INTERVIEW RESULTS SHOWED THAT SOCIAL WORKERS TENDED TO EMPHASIZE GROUPS' TREATMENT FUNCTIONS, WHILE ADOLESCENTS AND PARENTS EMPHASIZED THE FUN ASPECTS. THE SIZE OF THE GROUPS WAS LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COHESION, COMMITMENT, AND CONTINUITY. ADOLESCENTS LIKED THE ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS THE INVOLVEMENT IN DECISIONMAKING. THE GROUPS IMPROVED SOCIAL WORKERS' RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARENTS. HOWEVER, THE GROUPS DID NOT APPEAR TO LEAD TO CONTINUING FRIENDSHIPS OR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES BY ADOLESCENTS WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE GROUPS. ADOLESCENTS AND PARENTS HAD MORE FAVORABLE COMMENTS ABOUT THE GROUPS THAN DID THE SOCIAL WORKERS. RESULTS INDICATED THAT IF INTERMEDIATE TREATMENT IS TO CHANGE DELINQUENT ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR, IT NEEDS TO BE OFFERED AT A MORE INTENSIVE LEVEL THAN WAS PROVIDED BY THESE GROUPS. AGENCIES SHOULD PROVIDE BETTER FACILITIES, STAFF TIME, SUPPORT, AND SUPERVISION TO WORKERS IN SUCH PROGRAMS. NEVERTHELESS, THESE INTERMEDIATE TREATMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDED FUN AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH CARING ADULTS, THEREBY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF DEPRIVATION. TABLES, FIGURES, FOOTNOTES, 96 REFERENCES, AND AN APPENDIX DESCRIBING THE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)