NCJ Number
66935
Date Published
1979
Length
66 pages
Annotation
THE PHILOSOPHY AND PROGRAM OF VISIONQUEST,A TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE HAD MULTIPLE REFERRALS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE OR MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
FOUNDED IN 1973, VISIONQUEST IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. THE VISIONQUEST PROGRAMS ARE LOCATED IN ARIZONA AND COLORADO. VISIONQUEST IS ACCREDITED BY THE JOINT COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF HOSPITALS AS A PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT FACILITY. PROGRAMMATIC ALTERNATIVES ALLOW TREATMENT TO OCCUR IN STRUCTURED RURAL GROUP HOMES, URBAN GROUP HOUSES, THE NATURAL HOME, WILDERNESS TRAINING, SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE WAGON TRAIN, EXTENDED LEARNING TRIPS, OR A VARIETY OF POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS. THE PROGRAM IS IMPLEMENTED BY A MULTIDISCIPLINARY STAFF OF PROFESSIONALS FOR WHOM CHILD CARE IS A CAREER AND LIFESTYLE. VISIONQUEST IS BASED ON THREE MAJOR NATIVE AMERICAN CONCEPTS: THE VISIONQUEST (RITE OF PASSAGE), THE CONCEPT OF A CIRCULAR, HARMONIOUS UNIVERSE, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ADULTS TO SET FAIR AND CLEAR LIMITS FOR YOUTH AND TO CONFRONT THOSE WHO TEST THE LIMITS. ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF THE YOUTH IN THE PROGRAM ARE MALES, AVERAGING ABOUT 15.5 YEARS OF AGE. OF THE TOTAL POPULATION INVOLVED, 60 PERCENT ARE WHITE, 25 PERCENT MEXICAN-AMERICAN, 6 PERCCENT BLACK, AND 4 PERCENT AMERICAN INDIAN. MOST ARE BEHIND IN SCHOOL AND HAVE SERIOUSLY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES AND A LONG HISTORY OF DEVIANCY. TOOLS IN TREATMENT INCLUDE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STAFF AND YOUTHS, A DEFINED VALUE STRUCTURE, LEARNING ALTERNATIVES, DIRECT INTERVENTIONS, USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, CONTROL, USE OF CONTROLLED DANGER, AND MILIEU THERAPY. THE FIVE PROGRAM COMPONENTS INCLUDE DAILY LIVING, COUNSELING, EDUCATION, WILDERNESS PROGRAM AND OUTDOOR PROGRAM. EVALUATIONS BY A PRIVATE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION IN 1977 AND 1978 HAVE INDICATED THAT THE PROGRAM HAS ACHIEVED POSITIVE AND STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT RESULTS ON ALMOST EVERY MEASURE OF THERAPEUTIC EFFCTIVENESS. THE MOST RECENT STUDY SHOWED THAT ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF FORMER VISIONQUEST RESIDENTS ARE TROUBLE FREE AND AN ADDITIONAL 25 PERCENT HAVE COMMITTED ONLY 1 FURTHER OFFENSE. TWO GRAPHS, DESCRIPTIONS OF STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND CLINICAL PROCESSES, AND THE ORGANIZATION'S ADDRESS ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)