CHILDREN IN TROUBLE - FAMILIES IN CRISIS

• NCJ Number: 32546
• Author(s): A LEVETON; E LEVETON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 0 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Ford Foundation
• Corporate Author: University of California, Davis; Cinematherapy, Inc
• Sale Source: University of California, Davis; Not Available Through National Institute of Justice/NCJRS Document Loan Program
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: 300 MINUTES, 1974 AVAILABLE FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR IN 3 FORMS - 16MM COLOR FILM, 1/2 INCH REEL TO REEL VIDEOTAPE, AND 3/4 INCH VIDEOTAPE CASSETTES NCJRS HAS 3/4 INCH VIDEOTAPE ONLY.

Annotation

A SERIES OF VIDEOTAPED TRAINING SESSIONS THAT DEMONSTRATES THE SACRAMENTO (CA) '601' DIVERSION PROJECT'S FAMILY COUNSELING ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL APPROACHES THAT DEAL WITH INCORRIGIBLE CHILDREN.

Abstract

THE 601 PETITIONS REFER TO THAT SECTION OF CALIFORNIA CODE THAT DEFINES AS OFFENSES CERTAIN NON-CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BY JUVENILES (SUCH AS TRUANCY, RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME, AND RESISTING PARENTAL CONTROL). THE SACRAMENTO APPROACH WAS TO TEST WHETHER JUVENILES CHARGED WITH THIS KIND OF OFFENSE COULD BE HANDLED BETTER THROUGH SHORT TERM FAMILY CRISIS THERAPY AT THE TIME OF REFERRAL THAN THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL PROCEDURE OF THE JUVENILE COURT. THE TRAINING SESSIONS ARE LED BY A HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM OF FAMILY THERAPISTS, WHO FREQUENTLY WORK TOGETHER IN ACTUAL THERAPY SESSIONS. THE FIRST TAPE, FAMILY PROCESS, EXAMINES THE FAMILY AS A SYSTEM OF DYNAMIC INTERACTING PROCESSES (SUCH AS MUTUAL BLAMING OR AVOIDING DECISION-MAKING). THE CONCEPT OF FAMILY HOMEOSTASIS IS DESCRIBED AS THE STABILITY THAT IS MAINTAINED BY THE FAMILY'S REACTIONS TO EXTERNAL STIMULI. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONTENT (WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED) AND PROCESS (WHAT WAS BEHIND THE ACTIONS) IS EXPLAINED. THE NEXT TAPE DEFINES FAMILY RULES AS FORMULATIONS ABOUT FAMILY PROCESSES THAT ARE USEFUL AS PREDICTIVE MECHANISMS FOR FUTURE BEHAVIOR. CASE STUDIES ARE PRESENTED AS WELL AS ROLE-PLAYING EXERCISES FOR THE TRAINEES TO EXPERIENCE THE EFFECTS OF FAMILY RULES ON A GIVEN SYSTEM. THE THIRD TAPE GETS INTO THE EXPERIENTIAL THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES OF FAMILY DRAWING, FAMILY SCULPTURE, AND, FROM PSYCHODRAMA, ROLE REVERSAL, DOUBLING, ACTIVE FANTASY, AND GESTALT THERAPY. THE FOURTH TAPE, USE OF SELF, EXPLORES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE THERAPIST'S EXPERIENCE, HIS CONCEPTS ABOUT HIS OWN FAMILY, AND HIS REACTIONS TO THE FAMILIES HE COUNSELS. TECHNIQUES FOR DEVELOPING EMPATHY THROUGH ROLE PLAYING ARE FEATURED. THE FINAL TAPE DEPICTS AN ACTUAL THERAPY SESSION CONDUCTED BY THE THERAPISTS. THE FAMILY BEING COUNSELED COMPRISED OF A 15 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO, THE NIGHT BEFORE, HAD ALMOST OVERDOSED ON BARBITURATES, AND HER MOTHER AND FATHER. THIS SESSION DEMONSTRATES MANY OF THE THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES PRESENTED ON THE PRECEDING TAPES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)