NCJ Number
67047
Date Published
1979
Length
72 pages
Annotation
THE PROGRAM OF THE NORTH DAKOTA FAMILY THERAPY INSTITUTE WORKING FOR THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF STATUS OFFENDERS THROUGH SHORT-TERM, INTENSIVE FAMILY THERAPY IS PRESENTED AND DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
FUNDED BY THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION (LEAA), THE FAMILY THERAPY INSTITUTE (FTI) BRINGS STATUS OFFENDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO THE TOWN OF RUGBY (N.D.) WHERE THEY ARE HOUSED FOR TREATMENT IN CONVERTED DORMITORIES. THE TREATMENT PERIOD IS FROM 3 TO 5 DAYS DURING WHICH THE FAMILIES MEET IN AN INFORMAL SETTING FOR 3 DAILY SESSIONS LASTING AN AVERAGE OF 1.5 HOURS. BETWEEN SESSIONS, THE FAMILIES WORK ON 'ASSIGNMENTS' DESIGNED TO REENFORCE THE CHANGES EXPERIENCED DURING THE SESSIONS. FAMILY THERAPY IS BASED ON RESPECT FOR THE CLIENTS AND THEIR DESIRE FOR IMPROVEMENT AND FOCUSES, IN EACH CASE, ON THE FAMILIES' STRENGTHS RATHER THAN WEAKNESSES. THE TREATMENT GOAL IS A BETTER FAMILY INTERACTION AND A NEW WAY OF FUNCTIONING. THE THERAPISTS (PARAPROFESSIONALS TRAINED IN THE FTI PROGRAM) WORK IN TEAMS EMPHASIZING INTERDEPENDENCE AND MUTUAL PROBLEM SOLVING. IF FAMILIES NEED FOLLOW-UP CARE, THEY ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO RETURN. IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN JANUARY 17 AND NOVEMBER 17, 1979, A TOTAL OF 126 FAMILIES PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. OF 138 JUVENILES WHO HAD BEEN REFERRED AS OFFENDERS, 33 WERE DEINSTITUTIONALIZED WITH THE HELP OF FTI, AND SO FAR ONLY 15 OFFENDERS HAVE HAD TO BE PUT IN AN INSTITUTION AFTER FTI TREATMENT. FOR THE FUTURE, FTI INTENDS TO EXPAND ITS SERVICES TO OTHER YOUTH-RELATED PROBLEMS SUCH AS DELINQUENCY AND CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT.THE REPORT IS DOCUMENTED BY NUMEROUS SUPPORTING MATERIALS SUCH AS TREATMENT PROGRAMS, FAMILY EVALUATIONS OF THE PROGRAM, AND OFFICIAL LETTERS OF SUPPORT.