Group Home Project - An Exploration Into the Use of Groups Homes for Delinquents in a Differential Treatment Setting

• NCJ Number: 72680
• Author(s): J W Pearson
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 26 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: California Dept of the Youth Authority
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Conducted as part of the community Treatment project (CTP) by the California Youth Authorigy, this 3-year reasearch-demonstration study, the Group Home Project, presents some tentative conclusions about group home placement for youth.

Abstract

The goals of the Group Home Project were to determine the feasibility of establishing and maintaining each of the group homes, to develop a taxonomy of relevant environments, and to evaluate the impact of the group home experience of youngsters. Six different types of group homes experience on youngsters. Six different types of group homes were studied: protective, containment, boarding, temporary community care, restriction, and individualized. These were designed to meet the treatment-control needs jof different classification of the delinquent populatin. Group home parents were recruited from the general population. Candidates for group home parents were interviewed indepth by the researcher, who also administered questionnaires and then rated candidated in relation to a scale of 52 items of personality and behavior. Final selections were made by the CTP staff. Behavior ratings on group home youngsters were completed by group home parents and parole agents using the Youngster Behavior Inventory. The data collection period extended from November 1966 to June 1969. Some tentative conclusions that were developed from project experiences include (1) some individuals who might be appropriate for individual foster home care of certain youngsters cannot handle the increased, simultaneous demands of several seriously delinquent, and frequently disturbed youngsters; and (2) agents and group home parents, though independently matched with youngsters, might still not be a 'good match' with one another. Moreover for the older, more seriould disturd delinquent, it may be necessary to sacrifice a certain amount of 'home atmosphere' in order to provide adequate facilities and to provide profesionally trained staff; and group home parent need occasional relief. One table, footnotes, and 15 references are provided.