NCJ Number
18013
Date Published
1972
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF THE GROWING USE OF GROUP FOSTER HOMES, A DESCRIPTION OF THE NATURE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE GROUP HOME PROJECT, AND A DISCUSSION OF THE MAIN RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT.
Abstract
FROM APRIL, 1966 THROUGH SEPTEMBER, 1969 THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH SPONSORED A GROUP HOME PROJECT. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT WERE TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING THESE HOMES, TO DEVELOP A TAXONOMY OF RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTS, AND TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF THESE HOMES ON YOUTH. EACH TYPE OF HOME WAS TO REPRESENT AN ENVIRONMENT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE NEEDS OF CERTAIN TYPES OF DELINQUENTS. HOMES WERE ESTABLISHED WITH THE FOLLOWING ORIENTATIONS; PROTECTIVE CONTAINMENT, BOARDING, TEMPORARY CARE, AND SHORT TERM RESTRICTION. IN ADDITION, TWO HOMES PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT AND CARE FOR DELINQUENT GIRLS WERE ESTABLISHED. THE GROUP HOMES WERE USED FOR BOTH LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM PLACEMENTS. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GROUP HOME PARENTS AND FACILITIES ARE DESCRIBED. DURING THE TOTAL PROJECT-PERIOD, A TOTAL OF 63 BOYS AND 11 GIRLS WERE PLACED. THE HOMES WERE FOUND TO BE RELATIVELY EASY TO ESTABLISH. MODERATE USE WAS MADE OF LONG-TERM PLACEMENT HOMES, WHILE CONSIDERABLE USE WAS MADE OF THE TEMPORARY CARE HOME. BOYS WHO WERE PLACED IN LONG-TERM HOMES WERE FOUND TO FALL LESS OFTEN IN PAROLE THAN SIMILAR COMMUNITY TREATMENT PROJECT BOYS WHO WERE NOT PLACED. THE BOARDING, TEMPORARY CARE, AND GIRLS HOMES WERE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL. DESPITE OCCASIONAL SERIOUS PROBLEMS, THE HOME OPERATIONS GENERALLY WENT SMOOTHLY. OPTIMAL NUMBER OF YOUTHS FOR LONG-TERM HOMES APPEARED TO BE ONLY THREE OR FOUR. THE MAIN FINAL REPORT ALSO DISCUSSED THE MAJOR PROBLEM AREAS OF THE GROUP HOME PROJECT.