NCJ Number
46666
Date Published
1973
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE IMPORTANCE OF VARIOUS ASPECTS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE APPLIED IN AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE SURVIVAL OF A SENSE OF SELF-WORTH DEPENDS INCREASINGLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND COPE WITH THE OPERATION OF IMPERSONAL AND SEEMINGLY ARBITRARY DECISIONS, RULES, AND OTHER BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS EXERCISED BY LARGE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR AGENTS. MUCH DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR CAN BE VIEWED AS THE RESULT OF A PERSON'S FAILURE TO INTERNALIZE A STRONG SENSE OF SELF-ESTEEM AND RATIONAL STANDARDS FOR MEASURING SOCIAL JUSTICE. AN INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN, THEREFORE, SHOULD BE PRINCIPALLY MEASURED BY ITS PROVISION OF AN ENVIRONMENT THAT BRINGS EXPERIENCES OF RESPECT FOR PERSONAL RIGHTS, PROVISION FOR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS, AND ALLOWANCE FOR AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF INDIVIDUALITY. SPECIFIC RIGHTS THAT SHOULD BE PROVIDED AND RESPECTED ARE DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR INSTITUTIONAL OPERATION. THE STRUCTURAL ARRANGEMENTS AND STAFF ORIENTATIONS CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL IN IMPLEMENTING THE GOALS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) THE PRIMARY FOCUS FOR OBSERVING, EVALUATING, AND INTERPRETING A CHILD'S BEHAVIOR MUST BE HIS DAILY LIFE EXPERIENCES WITH HIS PEERS, NOT THE BRIEF EPISODES HE SPENDS IN THERAPY WITH PROFESSIONALS; (2) THE CHILD'S DAILY LIFE EXPERIENCE MUST BE STRUCTURED TO EMPHASIZE CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE EXPOSURE TO REALISTIC LEARNING SITUATIONS; (3) THE COTTAGE PARENT MUST BE THE KEY PERSON IN THE CHILD'S LIFE WHILE IN RESIDENCE; AND (4) THE STAFF MUST BE ORIENTED TOWARD THE PRIMARY TREATMENT GOALS OF THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CHILREN'S RIGHTS, AND SKILLFUL IN DISTINGUISHING JUST FROM UNJUST ASPECTS OF DAILY LIFE EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN. ADMISSIONS STANDARDS, DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS, AND EVALUATION OF PROGRESS MEASURES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ASSESSING A CHILD'S GROWTH IN PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. (RCB)