THREE JUVENILE GROUP HOMES - FINAL PROCESS EVALUATION REPORT ON VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA GROUP HOME DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - ORLEANS PARISH, LA

• NCJ Number: 61795
• Author(s): S M HUNT
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 30 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Louisiana Cmssn on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice; US Dept of Justice; New Orleans Mayor's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• Corporate Author: New Orleans Mayor's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE LEAA-FUNDED JUVENILE GROUP HOMES PROGRAM OF ORLEANS PARISH, LA., IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED, EMPHASIZING PROGRAM OPERATION AND EFFICIENCY.

Abstract

VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA WAS AWARDED A GRANT TO LOCATE, MODIFY, AND OPERATE THREE GROUP HOMES FOR RECIDIVIST JUVENILES. COVERING THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 1977 TO MARCH 1979, THIS PROCESS EVALUATION INDICATES THAT 43 REFERRALS WERE RECEIVED DURING THE EVALUATION PERIOD; 11 CHILDREN WERE ACCEPTED AND PLACED IN THE PROGRAM. THREE JUVENILES RAN AWAY, ONE WAS TERMINATED FROM THE PROGRAM AND SENT TO THE LOUISIANA TRAINING INSTITUTE, AND SEVEN REMAINED IN THE PROGRAM. ALTHOUGH BEHAVIORAL IMPROVEMENTS WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO DOCUMENT BECAUSE OF THE BRIEF PARTICIPATION TIME, IF THE THIRD HOME OPENS AS PLANNED IN JUNE 1979, THE PROJECT CAN BE TERMED A PARTIAL SUCCESS AS TWO HOMES WILL THEN BE IN OPERATION. AS A RESULT OF SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS AND STUDY, THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE GUIDELINES FOR GROUP HOMES, ADOPTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATION COUNCIL, BE ADJUSTED IN TERMS OF ALLOWABLE START-UP TIME FOR BIDS AND RENOVATIONS. SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION, GREATER EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO LOCATE AND PLACE REFERRALS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED. ALSO, THE TEACHING PARENTS IN GROUP HOMES SHOULD BE CERTIFIED BY BOYS TOWN. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).