NCJ Number
43284
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 409-417
Date Published
1977
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE CONCEPT OF USING WRITTEN AGREEMENTS TO HELP PEOPLE GET ALONG BETTER AND ITS APPLICATION TO JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND THEIR PARENTS IN THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM BY TEACHING PARENTS AND YOUTHS THE PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS THAT WILL LEAD TO IMPROVEMENTS IN HOME, SCHOOL, AND NEIGHBORHOOD BEHAVIOR. STATISTICS SHOW THAT, OF 1200 YOUTHS WHO HAD COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, ONLY 10.7 PERCENT HAD BEEN REARRESTED, AS COMPARED TO A CONTROL GROUP OF 42.7 PERCENT. BEHAVIOR CONTRACTING IS USED EXTENSIVELY THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE THREE PHASES OF THE PROGRAM: INTAKE; TRAINING AS TREATMENT; AND FOLLOWUP. ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON WHAT HAD TO BE DONE FOR THE PARENT TO REINSTATE APPROPRIATE CONTROLS, AS THE BREAKDOWN OF COMMUNICATIONS AND BASIC CHECKS AND BALANCES IN THE HOME HAS USUALLY PRECEDED THE JUVENILE'S ARREST. BEHAVIOR CONTRACTING DEALS DIRECTLY WITH THE ISSUES OF CONSISTENCY, CLARITY OF EXPECTATION, AND CHANGING THE FAMILY SYSTEM FROM AN EMPHASIS ON PUNISHMENT TO THE USE OF REWARDS TO IMPROVE BEHAVIOR. THE PARENTS AND THE CHILD BOTH TAKE PART IN DEFINING GOALS AND IN SETTING REWARDS FOR COMPLETION OF RESPONSIBILITIES. THE ARTICLE CONCENTRATES ON THE SPECIFIC STEPS INVOLVED IN FORMULATING AND IMPLEMENTING A WORKABLE CONTRACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN PARENT AND ADOLESCENT. A SAMPLE FORMAT FOR A FAMILY MANAGEMENT CONTRACT IS PROVIDED.