NCJ Number
119903
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 40 Issue: 3 Dated: (1989) Pages: 45-54
Date Published
1989
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study examines rates of attrition of 150 families undergoing court-referred and court-ordered therapy in community mental health centers and makes recommendations for juvenile court officials and mental health professionals to retain and increase the participation of court-involved families in therapy.
Abstract
Data on the families' participation were obtained from three rural community mental health centers in southeastern Ohio. There was a 37 percent drop out rate, and the median number of therapy sessions attended by the families was five, an insufficient number to improve family functioning. Families who remained in therapy had fathers participating in the sessions. One of the three centers had a better retention rate than the other two because staff provided frequent communication, coordination, and follow-up. Six recommendations for reducing attrition include: (1) encouraging fathers to participate in the therapy sessions; (2) conducting therapy sessions at the family's home; (3) increasing communications, coordination, and follow-up procedures, especially for families who tend to drop out of therapy; (4) requiring that court-referred families participate in a minimum of 12 weekly therapy sessions; (5) increasing coordination between referring juvenile courts and community mental health agencies; and (6) introducing therapy not as punishment but as help. 32 references.