YOUTH CRISIS SERVICES - SHORT-TERM COMMUNITY-BASED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT

• NCJ Number: 46406
• Journal: Child Welfare Volume: 56 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1977) Pages: 187-195
• Author(s): E T DIMOCK
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Welfare League of America (CWLA)
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE CWLA PACIFIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE AT RENO, 1976

Annotation

A FACILITY TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM CARE FOR RURAL PREDELINQUENT YOUTHS IS DESCRIBED; IT MAINTAINS A STRUCTURED SETTING, COMBINED WITH INTENSIVE THERAPY FOR BOTH THE YOUTH AND THE FAMILY.

Abstract

THE YOUTH CRISIS SERVICES, A GROUP HOME SERVING GLENN AND BUTTE COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA, WAS DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE A COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVE FOR PREDELINQUENT CHILDREN IN A RURAL AREA. TO DATE, MOST SUCH GROUP HOMES HAVE BEEN IN CITIES. THE MAXIMUM STAY IS 60 DAYS. MOST OF THE JUVENILES RETURN HOME AFTER 45 DAYS. THE PRIMARY PURPOSES OF THE FACILITY ARE TO PROVIDE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ADOLESCENT AND THE FAMILY SITUATION, TO ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE YOUTH TO RUN AWAY, TO INTERRUPT THE PATHOLOGICAL FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK WHICH HAS LED TO THE CRISIS, TO PROVIDE AN EMOTIONAL 'BREATHER' FOR THE ADOLESCENT, TO PROVIDE AN UNDERSTANDING ENVIRONMENT TO FOSTER CHANGE AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO REMOVE STRESS FROM THE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS. THE RESIDENTS OF THE HOME ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY, ATTENDING SCHOOL FUNCTIONS, SHOPPING, GOING TO THE PARK. STAFF MEMBERS OF THE HOME CONTINUALLY INTERACT WITH THE SCHOOL TO MAKE SURE THESE CONTACTS ARE POSITIVE. CAREFUL PREPARATION DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GROUP HOME IS ESSENTIAL FOR COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE. THE YOUTH CRISIS SERVICES SELECTED THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAREFULLY, KEPT THE PHYSICAL PROPERTY AS MUCH LIKE THE SURROUNDING HOMES AS POSSIBLE, FILLED THE RESIDENCE GRADUALLY, AND SERVED THE LOCAL PEOPLE. THIS MADE IT EASIER TO HANDLE PROBLEMS WHEN THEY AROSE. THE HOME IS STAFFED BY TWO CHILD-CARE PROFESSIONALS, A CHILD-CARE SUPERVISOR AND A HALF-TIME SOCIAL WORKER. EMPHASIS IS ON A CONSISTENT ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH THE ADOLESCENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS, FOSTERING COMMUNICATION AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS, AND SHOWING BOTH THE CHILD AND THE PARENTS THAT THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF HANDLING DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1973 THE HOME HAS SERVED ABOUT 46 ADOLESCENTS A YEAR; ABOUT 90 PERCENT HAVE RETURNED TO IMPROVED HOME SITUATIONS. THE PROGRAM HAS ALMOST COMPLETELY ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM OF RUNAWAYS IN THE JURISDICTIONS SERVED.