NCJ Number
31212
Journal
JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION Dated: (SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1975) Pages: 19-21 AND 37
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATIONS, AND RESULTS OF THE MICHIGAN YOUTH SERVICES (MYS) SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM FOR DELINQUENT AND PREDELINQUENT YOUTHS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THIS PROGRAM WAS TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUTHS LIVING IN SMALL COMMUNITIES AND/OR RURAL AREAS. PRIOR TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AN MYS SELECTION COMMITTEE EXTENDS INVITATIONS TO SELECTED YOUTHS TO ATTEND THE MYS CAMP AT WURTSMITH AIR FORCE BASE FOR A WEEK. THE CAMP ACCEPTS 10 PERCENT 'ACHIEVERS', 40 PERCENT PREDELINQUENTS, 25 PERCENT EXPELLED OR SUSPENDED YOUTHS, AND 25 PERCENT ADJUDICATED DELINQUENTS. CAMPERS ARE DIVIDED INTO GROUPS OF FIVE; ONE COUNSELOR IS ASSIGNED TO EACH GROUP. YOUTHS PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS, VOCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS, AND CAMPING. IT WAS HOPED THAT BY SEPARATING YOUTHS FROM THEIR PAST ASSOCIATIONS AND PLACING THEM IN NEW ENVIRONMENTS, POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS WOULD DEVELOP. AN EVALUATION OF THE MYS CAMP BY THE FLORIDA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN THE BOYS' PRECAMP AND POSTCAMP SELF-OPINIONS, OVERALL ATTITUDES, SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, AND BEHAVIORS SUCH AS DELINQUENCY INVOLVEMENT.