Implementation of the Intensive Community-Based Aftercare Program

• NCJ Number: 181464
• Author(s): Richard G. Wiebush; Betsie McNulty; Thao Le
• Date Published: July 2000
• Length: 20 pages
• Grant Number(s): 95-JN-CX-0023
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This Bulletin provides an overview of the Intensive Aftercare Program (IAP) model and describes its implementation over the first 3 years by participating sites in Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey, and Virginia; it also assesses the extent to which the implementation has been successful and identifies the factors that facilitate implementation and those that impede it.

Abstract

In 1987 the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention established a research and demonstration program to develop, assess, and disseminate an intensive aftercare program targeted at the rehabilitation of serious, chronic juvenile offenders. The IAP aims to reduce recidivism among high-risk juvenile parolees by providing a continuum of supervision and services during institutionalization and after release. Central to the IAP model and the sites' programs is the notion of "overarching case management." This program element focuses on the processes required for successful transition and aftercare. The five subcomponents of this element are assessment, classification, and selection criteria; individualized case planning that incorporates family and community perspectives; a mix of intensive surveillance and services; a balance of incentives and graduated consequences; and creation of links with community resources and social networks. The IAP demonstrations in Colorado, Nevada, and Virginia have implemented programs that largely reflect their program designs and the intent of the IAP model and have resulted in supervision and services for IAP youth that are significantly different from those received by regular parolees. The IAP programs in all sites provide youth with enhanced and balanced supervision and services, especially during the aftercare phase. 21 notes and 5 references