NCJ Number
67946
Date Published
1977
Length
61 pages
Annotation
THE INTERIM HOME PROGRAM (IHP) OF BOSTON, PROVIDING SHORT TERM DETENTION CARE FOR GIRLS THROUGH FOSTER HOME PLACEMENT, OFFERS WHOLLY INADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE AND EDUCATION AND DOES NOT ADEQUATELY TRAIN FOSTER FAMILIES.
Abstract
DATA FOR THIS 1977 EVALUATION WAS COLLECTED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH STAFF, CLIENTS, AND FOSTER FAMILIES AND THROUGH OBSERVING IHP PROGRAMS AND RECORDS. THE IHP, ESTABLISHED IN 1974 IS A PROGRAM RUN BY THE NEW ENGLAND HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS. DURING THE EVALUATION TIME, IT PLACED 76 BOYS AS WELL AS GIRLS UNDER COURT DETENTION OR HAVING CHNS STATUS (NOT DEFINED). YOUTHS SERVED RANGED IN AGE FROM 12.8 TO 16.9 YEARS AND 57 PERCENT WERE CAUCASIAN. IN ADDITION TO MAKING FOSTER PLACEMENTS, IHP OFFERS SOME EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, EMPLOYMENT, AND GROUP COUNSELING SERVICES, AND PSYCHODRAMA. CRISIS INTERVENTION IS OFFERED 24 HOURS PER DAY FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. YOUHTS MAY BE TERMINATED FROM IHP FOR RUNNING AWAY FROM FOSTER HOMES OR BEING RETURNED TO COURT, SECURE DETENTION, OR THEIR OWN HOMES. THE EVALUATION FINDS THAT IHP PROVIDES NO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND LITTLE ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPANTS FOR REMAINING IN SCHOOL. ONLY 16 OUT OF 60 GIRLS IN IHP DURING THE EVALUATION HAD REGULAR SCHOOLING. MOREOVER, IHP OFFERS NO MEDICAL PROGRAM AND INADEQUATE MEDICAL SCREENING. ALTHOUGH CRISIS INTERVENTION, PSYCHODRAMA, AND COUNSELING ARE PROVIDED AS INDICATED, RECORDS ABOUT THESE ARE POOR AND NO FORMAL TREATMENT PLANS ARE DEVELOPED. FINALLY, THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF RECRUITING, TRAINING, AND SUPERVISING FOSTER HOMES MUST BE IMPROVED TO INCLUDE BETTER FOSTER FAMILY ASSESSMENT, MORE RIGOROUS TRAINING, AND REGULAR CONTACT WITH IHP STAFF. IHP BUDGET, COMMUNITY RELATIONS, STAFF, AND PROGRAM GUIDELINES ARE ALSO EVALUATED; RECOMMENDATIONS, TABLES, AND APPENDIXES ARE INCLUDED.