TYPOLOGY OF RESIDENTIAL ESTABLISHMENTS FOR MINORS IN PROBLEM SITUATIONS ACCORDING TO THEIR EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES

• NCJ Number: 63970
• Author(s): B GAILLY
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: Editions Medicine et Hygiene
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: French
• Country: Switzerland

Annotation

THE VARIOUS METHODS AND INTERNAL STRUCTURES OF INSTITUTIONS FOR PROBLEM ADOLESCENTS IN BELGIUM ARE CLASSIFIED FROM DATA ON 118 INSTITUTIONS.

Abstract

INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS CAN BE DISTINGUISHED ACCORDING TO WHETHER PROBLEMS ARE CONSIDERED TREATABLE, WHETHER TREATMENT IS UNIFORM, DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY IN EVERYDAY LIFE, PERSONALIZATION OF CONTROL, INDIVIDUALIZATION, AND CLOSENESS IN STAFF-RESIDENT SOCIAL RELATIONS. THE POSITION OF INSTITUTIONS IS MEASURED BY QUESTIONNAIRES COMPLETED BY INSTITUTION DIRECTORS CONCERNING DISCIPLINE, PUNISHMENT, THERAPY, DAILY ROUTINE, RECREATION, MEALS, NONINSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES, ROOMS, AND TELEPHONE SERVICE; RESULTS ARE ANALYZED BY FACTORIAL ANALYSIS. DIMENSIONS FOR CLASSIFICATION ARE THE INDIVIDUAL VERSUS COLLECTIVE APPROACH, UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE CAUSE OF PROBLEMS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF INTERVENTION, PRIVACY VERSUS LACK OF PRIVACY IN INDIVIDUAL LIVING, AND THE DEGREE OF INSTITUTIONAL TOLERANCE OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCES. GROUPS THUS DIFFERENTIATED ARE (ONLY IN TERMS OF FORMAL ORGANIZATION) (1) INSTITUTIONS WITH CERTAINTY OF PROBLEM CAUSES AND WITH INTERVENTION COMBINED WITH PRIVACY (17.9 PERCENT), WHICH TREAT FAIRLY SIMPLE PROBLEMS ('FAMILY OR LIFE-LIKE ENVIRONMENT'); (2) INSTITUTIONS WHICH ARE UNCERTAIN OF PROBLEM CAUSES AND INTERVENTION CONSEQUENCES, WHICH ARE CLOSED TO THE OUTSIDE (14.4 PERCENT), AND WHICH TREAT VERY DIFFICULT-TO-DIAGNOSE PROBLEMS ('PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT'); (3) CLOSED INSTITUTIONS WITH LITTLE PRIVACY (17.4 PERCENT); WHICH TREAT FAIRLY SIMPLE PROBLEMS ('CLOSED ENVIRONMENT'); (4) OPEN INSTITUTIONS IN WHICH THE CAUSES OF PROBLEMS AND CONSEQUENCES OF INTERVENTION ARE UNCERTAIN (15.2 PERCENT) AND IN WHICH VERY COMPLEX, POORLY UNDERSTOOD PROBLEMS ARE HANDLED ('REINTEGRATION ENVIRONMENT'); AND (5) INSTITUTIONS THAT USE THE COLLECTIVE APPROACH, DEEMPHASIZE PRIVACY, AND REDUCE NONCONTROLLED INFLUENCES REGARDLESS OF THE DIFFICULTY OF PROBLEMS ('CONFORMIST ENVIRONMENT'). THE DIFFERENT TYPES REFLECT STRATEGIES OF AVOIDANCE INTENDED TO ELIMINATE THE HETEROGENEITY OF INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES, BUT DO NOT CONSIDER MINORS' DAILY ACTIVITIES IN DETAIL. OVERALL, THE INSTITUTIONS CANNOT BE SURE OF THE FINAL EFFECTS OF THEIR METHODOLOGIES ON ADOLESCENTS. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE SUPPLIED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)