NCJ Number
94755
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 26 Issue: 3 Dated: (July 1984) Pages: 343-354
Date Published
1984
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The Rossbrook House Program, a drop-in center operated in a run-down section of central Winnipeg (Canada), is a community-based juvenile assistance program. It takes an activist role in diverting juveniles away from delinquent activity and from involvement with the juvenile justice system.
Abstract
The house provides informal group recreation, athletic competition, trips, craft exhibitions, and similar activities to community juveniles and operates after school and round-the-clock on weekends. The program's four main objectives are stabilization, socialization, personal development, and crisis intervention. All programs are based on the principles of self-referral and self-help. The self-help process is facilitated through staff recruitment, training, and development. Self-help networks are created to provide support to reinforce behavioral change. Individual supportive ties with others with similar problems are promoted. The program provides a setting for participants to attend school and learn social and job skills. It extends a resource network to help them solve their daily living problems. While the Rossbrook House differs from traditional programs in terms of goals, objectives, and methods of referrals, it remains consistent with several basic notions regarding juvenile diversion -- that socially supportive ties play a significant part in maintaining the psychological and physical integrity of the individual over time. The program acts as an informal social support resource supplementing the help from parents and other primary group structures. Twenty-one references are appended.