NCJ Number
50270
Date Published
1978
Length
59 pages
Annotation
THE COURT-SCHOOL SEMINAR PROJECT ATTEMPTED TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, POLICE, AND COURTS TO PREVENT AND TREAT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND REDUCE PROBLEM BEHAVIOR IN SCHOOLS.
Abstract
PROJECT PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED 36 STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN TO THE 12TH GRADE, 2 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, AND 12 REPRESENTATIVES OF SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. PARTICIPANTS COMPLETED BOTH PRETESTS AND POSTTESTS, SUBMITTED WRITTEN REPORTS DESCRIBING THE INSERVICE TRAINING SESSION CONDUCTED BY THE PARTICIPANT IN THE SCHOOL OR AGENCY, AND ATTENDED AT LEAST SIX OF EIGHT SEMINARS. SEMINARS COVERED SUCH TOPICS AS COMMUNICATIONS BUILDING, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCESS, COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIVENESS TO CHILDREN IN TROUBLE, STRATEGIES FOR WORKING WITH PROBLEMATIC YOUTH, SCHOLASTIC PERFORMANCE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, AND JUVENILE SERVICES IN BERRIEN COUNTY, MICH. THE SECOND SECTION OF THE REPORT IS A 2-YEAR PROJECT REVIEW. THE FOLLOWUP SURVEY CONSISTED OF A MAILED INTERVIEW TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THE RESPONSES FROM 63 PERCENT OF THOSE CONTACTED GENERALLY WERE FAVORABLE. THE BERRIEN COUNTY EXPERIENCE SHOWED THAT WHEN MULTIAGENCY, INSERVICE TRAINING IS MADE AVAILABLE, SCHOOLS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES WILL PARTICIPATE, THAT NEW METHODS AND TECHNIQUES CAN BE LEARNED THROUGH INSERVICE TRAINING, AND THAT SEMINARS OF THIS TYPE CAN IMPROVE CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND YOUTH SERVICE AGENCIES. A SUGGESTED MODEL FOR FUTURE COURT-SCHOOL SEMINAR PROJECTS IS PRESENTED. CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO NEEDS ASSESSMENT, ORGANIZATION OF A SEMINAR COMMITTEE, IDENTIFICATION OF FUNDING SOURCES, PREPARATION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS, BEGINNING A PROJECT, SEMINAR MAINTENANCE, AND CLOSING THE SEMINAR. NEWS MEDIA INVOLVEMENT IS ALSO DISCUSSED. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)