NCJ Number
45931
Date Published
1977
Length
116 pages
Annotation
THE OPERATIONS AND INTERACTIONS OF THE STAFF IN THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES ARE EVALUATED, ALONG WITH PROGRAM IMPACT ON DRUG ABUSE, DELINQUENCY, DRUG ATTITUDES, AND SELF-ESTEEM OF THE CLIENTS.
Abstract
THE RAZA COMMUNITY EFFORT DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM ORIGINATED IN 1971 AS A DETOXIFICATION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY EX-ADDICTS AND EX-CONVICTS IN AN ATTEMPT TO MITIGATE WIDESPREAD DRUG ABUSE IN THE CHICANO COMMUNITIES OF SACRAMENTO AND EAST YOLO COUNTY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RAZA COMMUNITY EFFORT EVOLVED INTO AN OPERATION SEPARATE FROM THE DETOXIFICATION CENTER, WITH THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTH. THIS ASPECT OF THE OPERATION IS EVALUATED. THE EVOLUTION OF THE PROJECT'S STAFFING DYNAMICS AND STAFF PROBLEMS ARE REVIEWED; CONFLICT BETWEEN THE BILINGUAL, BICULTURAL STAFF AND NON-MEXICAN-AMERICAN FUNDING AGENCIES LEAD TO A NUMBER OF RESIGNATIONS. IT IS NOTED THAT STAFF MEMBERS DO NOT FUNCTION WITHIN STANDARDIZED GUIDELINES FOR SERVICE DELIVERY; ALTHOUGH CONTACTING YOUTH WITHIN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING DRUG ABUSE BEHAVIOR IS THE BASIC APPROACH, THE METHODS FOR ACHIEVING THIS GOAL DIFFER FROM ONE STAFF MEMBER TO ANOTHER, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHICH SERVICES ACHIEVE SPECIFIC TYPES OF RESULTS. IN MEASURING THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT OPERATIONS ON CLIENTS, 32 SUBJECTS WITH VARYING CONTACTS WITH THE PROGRAM WERE PRE- AND POSTTESTED OVER A 4-MONTH PERIOD TO DETERMINE ANY CHANGES IN DRUG ABUSE, DRUG ATTITUDES, DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, AND SELF-ESTEEM. THESE FOUR DEPENDENT VARIABLES WERE CORRELATED WITH AN INDEPENDENT VARIABLE -- THE NUMBER OF CONTACTS WITH RAZA. DRUG USE WAS MEASURED BY THE PERSONAL DRUG USE SCALE; DELINQUENCY BY THE SELF-REPORT INSTRUMENT EMPLOYED BY MARTIN GOLD IN HIS FIRST SURVEY OF SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENCY; DRUG ATTITUDES BY THE DRUG ATTITUDE SCALE (PENNSYLVANIA); AND SELF-ESTEEM BY THE SELF ASSESSMENT SCALES. CORRELATION MEASUREMENTS INDICATE THAT A DECREASE IN DELINQUENCY IS THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE ASSOCIATED WITH RAZA CONTACTS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT FUTURE APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THIS PROGRAM STRENGTH. TABLES PROVIDING EVALUATION DATA ARE INCLUDED. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS THE INSTRUMENTS AND FORMS USED. (RCB)