NCJ Number
62697
Date Published
1978
Length
40 pages
Annotation
AN EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR STATUS OFFENDERS ATTENDING AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL FOR ALIENATED ANND DISADVANTAGED YOUTH IN VANCOUVER, WASH., IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED.
Abstract
DURING THE FIRST 13 MONTHS OF PROJECT COSTAR, (COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUCCESS TRAINING AND REHABILITATION), THE PROJECT DIRECTOR CONTACTED ALL 103 STUDENTS AT PAN TERRA ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL, TESTED THOSE WHO EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THE COSTAR PROGRAM, AND SOUGHT PLACEMENT FOR STUDENTS IN PAYING JOBS, COMMUNITY WORK PROGRAMS, AND VOCATIONAL CLASSES. OF THE 75 STUDENTS SERVED BY COSTAR, 46 WERE FEMALE, 54 CAME FROM BROKEN HOMES, AND 47 HAD BEEN DETAINED FOR A STATUS OFFENSE AND/OR A DELINQUENT CRIME. THE STUDENTS' SCORES ON THE CALIFORNIA PSYCHOLOGICAL INVENTORY (CPI) SHOWED LOW SELF-ESTEEM AND SOCIAL COMPETENCE. AT THE END OF THE EVALUATION PERIOD, SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS WERE FOUND IN ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY AND EMPLOYMENTSTATUS AMONG COSTAR PARTICIPANTS. THERE WERE ALSO FEWER CONTACTS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AGENCIES AND BUSINESSES EMPLOYING COSTAR STUDENTS EXPRESSED ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT. HOWEVER, EXTREME DECLINES ON MOST CPI SCALES WERE NOTED, IN APPARENT CONTRADICTION TO THE STUDENTS' PROGRESS. THE REPORT COVERS PROJECT ACTIVITIES, STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS, AND EVALUATION FINDINGS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS OF THE CPI SCORES. LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY ARE APPENDED. SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED.