NCJ Number
227948
Journal
American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: 1995 Pages: 23-30
Date Published
1995
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study assessed the effectiveness of a multidimensional, inpatient American-Indian adolescent treatment program regarding its impact on school performance and antisocial behavior.
Abstract
The study provided preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of program objectives. The combination of structure and nurturing culturally specific counseling apparently taught the adolescents that they could control much of what happened to them by their own choice. One of the most distressing characteristics of most of the adolescents entering the program was their inability to articulate goals, either in the short term or long term. The variety of traditional experiences offered the adolescents apparently gave many of them new ways to solve problems. Most attended "sweat lodges" regularly or became interested in the Dakotah language or history. The program has four levels that represent increasing degrees of freedom and responsibility. Each participant enters on Level one, which limits activity to within the locked unit. The second level enables participants to go outside and to school. The third level allows home visits, and participants in Level four have almost complete freedom of involvement in the community and school activities, but with nightly curfews. Adolescents earn points by successfully completing assigned tasks, going to therapy or sweat lodges, attending school on time, and completing academic assignments. Points are deducted for negative behaviors such as aggression, running away, drinking, and noncompliance with rules for the unit. The counseling component includes individual and group counseling, and each individual is assessed with a battery of psychological tests, followed by monthly interviews by the staff psychologist. Throughout program participation, participants are exposed to experiences and education relevant to traditional Dakotah thought and values. Adolescents who did and did not complete treatment were assessed on school enrollment status, school progress while in the program, and legal difficulties before and after treatment. 9 references