NCJ Number
48042
Date Published
1976
Length
32 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF FEEDBACK DATA ON RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS AND TREATMENT SUCCESS TO MODIFY THE PROGRAMS AND SELECTION PROCEDURES OF A RESIDENTIAL FACILITY FOR JUVENILES IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE ST. FRANCIS HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS SELECTS OFFENDERS AND PREDELINQUENT YOUTHS, AGE 12 TO 18, FOR ANTICIPATED AMENABILITY TO CHANGE IN THE HOME'S OPEN THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT. EACH YOUTH HAS A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT, EXPLICIT TREATMENT PLAN, AND PRIMARY COUNSELOR. ALL PROGRAM ELEMENTS ARE DIRECTED TOWARD RESOCIALIZATION. THE MODAL STAY FOR CLIENTS, WHO COME FROM ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, IS 11 MONTHS. FOR 8 YEARS, THE PROGRAM HAS ADMINISTERED A FIXED MINIMUM BATTERY OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL MEASURES UPON THE ENTRANCE OF EACH YOUTH INTO THE PROGRAM. POST-TREATMENT OUTCOMES (COPING, MAINTAINING FREEDOM, EMPLOYMENT, SKILL IMPROVEMENT, FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, PERSONAL SOUNDNESS, ETC.) OVER 2 OR MORE YEARS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED FOR 233 CLIENTS AND FOR A CONTROL GROUP OF 29 YOUTHS WHO WERE SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM BUT NOT ADMITTED. ON THE BASIS OF COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS, THE HOME HAS MADE CHANGES IN ITS SELECTION CRITERIA, TREATMENT STRATEGIES, AND BUDGETING PRIORITIES. SUMMARIES OF THE HOME'S STUDIES OF TREATMENT OUTCOMES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF PROGRAM CHANGES BASED ON THE STUDIES ARE PRESENTED, TOGETHER WITH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ON STUDY METHODS AND INSTRUMENTS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)