NCJ Number
73395
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 15 Issue: 59 Dated: (Fall 1980) Pages: 521-527
Date Published
1980
Length
7 pages
Annotation
According to a preliminary evaluation, Salt Lake City's Adolescent Residential Treatment and Education Center (ARTEC), a community-based program for male and female delinquents between 12 and 18 years, has been successful in working with acting out or delinquent youths and their families.
Abstract
Since March 1975, 87 adolescent females and 59 males have been selected for the 2 residences operated by ARTEC. Generally, juveniles diagnosed as psychotic, mentally retarded, or organically impaired are excluded and sent to other State facilities. Professionals and paraprofessionals use several therapeutic approaches, including individual therapy, transactional analysis, group sessions, and family counseling. An education program staffed by special education teachers, volunteers, and students is geared to the resident's individual strengths. The program's millieu therapy component rewards improvements in attitudes and behavior by gradually increasing privileges and opportunities for leadership. Planned recreational activities introduce residents to sports and group games, while providing opportunities for social interaction. The ARTEC staff have evaluated the program through the Goal Attainment Scaling technique which allows success for several different behaviors to be measure individually. Goal Attainment scores for the 72 residents who completed the program were higher than those of the 44 dropouts, with scores for the 30 current residents falling between the 2 groups. Although evaluation of ARTEC will continue and followup folloup studies on graduates are planned, preliminary findings indicate that adolescents who complete the program have improved their abilities to cope with family and community life. A sample Goal Attainment chart, a summary of the statistical analysis, and 3 references are provided.