NCJ Number
115570
Journal
Public Welfare Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Dated: (Fall 1988) Pages: 29-36
Date Published
1988
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a 1987 survey of group homes for dependent, emotionally disturbed, and socially maladjusted youths in New Jersey and examines how long they stayed in the group homes, why they were discharged, and where they went after leaving.
Abstract
Questionnaires were mailed to the 20 privately-operated group homes for dependent and troubled youths under the supervision of New Jersey's Division of Youth and Family Services (DFYS) requesting information about residents who had been discharged during the year ending February 28, 1987. Seventeen of the group homes responded to the questionnaire; Each served six to twelve residents. In addition to the questionnaire, interviews were conducted with six group home directors, representatives of regional, state, and local DFYS offices, the New Jersey Association of Children's Residential Facilities, and a county child placement review board. The survey group included 102 girls and 82 boys, all of whom had entered group homes with the voluntary consent of their parents or guardians. Two-thirds of the girls were white; more than half of the boys were non-white. Sixty percent of the youth stayed in the group home for no more than six months, while 40 percent stayed for no more than three months. Of the group, 37 were discharged as ready to return to their families while 70 were discharged prematurely when it was found they needed more intensive treatment or controls than could be provided by the group home. Three out of five left without achieving the goals set for the treatment. Sixty-three left the group home for their parents' homes, while 23 lived in facilities for status offenders or delinquents. Recommendations are made for improving group home treatment and placement.