NCJ Number
56229
Date Published
1978
Length
63 pages
Annotation
VISIONQUEST IS A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM FOR TREATING EMOTIONALLY AND BEHAVIORALLY DISORDERED JUVENILES, PARTICULARLY THOSE LABELED 'HARD CORE' DELINQUENTS, IN BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL SETTINGS.
Abstract
WITH PROGRAMS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO., VISIONQUEST RECEIVES CLIENTS REFERRED PRIMARILY BY THE LOCAL JUVENILE COURT CENTERS, MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES, AND SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES. THE PROGRAM'S PURPOSE IS TO PREVENT THE YOUTH'S PROBLEMS FROM REACHING THE POINT WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE YOUTHS' INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND REDUCE CLIENTS' DEPENDENCY BY PROMOTING THEIR RESPONSIBLE PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE. THE PROGRAM HAS AN INFORMAL SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT CONSISTING OF A BOARD OF DIRECTORS INVOLVED ON A FULL-TIME DAILY BASIS WITH THE PROGRAM, STAFF, AND STAFF GROUPS MADE UP OF YOUTHS WHO HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A DESIGNATED AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY IN RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR BEHAVIOR. VISIONQUEST FOCUSES ON DEALING WITH CLIENTS' AGGRESSIVE, ACTING OUT BEHAVIOR AND ON CONFRONTING AND RESOLVING THE ISSUES WITH THE CLIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY BY CHANNELING AGGRESSION INTO POSITIVE, ACCEPTABLE ACTIVITIES. THE KEY TOOLS IN THE PROGRAMS ARE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS; DEFINED VALUE STRUCTURES NEGOTIATED WITH THE YOUTHS ON ENTRY INTO THE PROGRAM; LEARNING ALTERNATIVES TO HELP CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS WITHOUT REINFORCING THEIR LOW SELF-ESTEEM; DIRECT INTERVENTION IN HOSTILE, AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR; CONTROL THROUGH A NUMBER OF METHODS FROM NORMAL STRUCTURE AND CONSISTENCY OF A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT TO PHYSICAL CONTROL; CONTROLLED DANGER OR UNDERSTANDABLE STRESS ACTIVITIES THAT ALLOW THE YOUTHS TO PUSH THEMSELVES TO THEIR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL LIMITS; AND MILIEU THERAPY. VISIONQUEST PROGRAMS INCLUDE CLINICAL TREATMENT SUCH AS COUNSELING (GROUP, FAMILY, CONJOINT FAMILY, INDIVIDUAL, AND PARENT), EDUCATION, WILDERNESS PROGRAMS, WAGON TRAINS, AND RECREATION. VISIONQUEST HOMES ARE GROUP HOMES IN NORMAL URBAN OR RURAL SETTINGS STAFFED BY TRAINED PROFESSIONAL CHILDCARING TEAMS (HOUSEPARENTS, TEACHERS, FAMILY COUNSELORS, AND APPRENTICES). RESULTS OF A 1974 EVALUATION OF VISIONQUEST ARE PRESENTED. FOR PROGRAM EVALUATION SEE NCJ-56230.