NCJ Number
53768
Date Published
1977
Length
29 pages
Annotation
USING DATA FROM PREEXISTING MONITORING AND RATING SYSTEMS, THE GREENBELT, MD., YOUTH SERVICES BUREAU (GREENBELT CARES), A COMMUNITY SERVICE AND COUNSELING ORGANIZATION IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
GREENBELT CARES IS A COMMUNITY FACILITY PROVIDING COUNSELING AND OTHER SERVICES TO THE YOUTH OF THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM IS BASED ON A BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION MODEL WITH A FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE BEHAVIOR OF CHILDREN THROUGH TEACHING PARENTS HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM. DATA FOR THE PROGRAM EVALUATION CAME FROM THREE SOURCES: (1) DEMOGRAPHIC MATERIAL ON FAMILIES TAKEN AT FIRST INTERVIEW, (2) RATINGS BY CLIENTS AND BEHAVIORAL CONTRACTS (PROCESS OR TREATMENT DATA); AND (3) FOLLOWUP INTERVIEWS. DEMOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, RATINGS, AND CONTRACTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR 265 CLIENT UNITS. IN ADDITION, AT LEAST ONE PERSON FROM EACH OF THE CLIENT UNITS RECEIVED A FOLLOWUP INTERVIEW. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE NEGOTIATION AND FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIRED BEHAVIORAL CONTINGENCY CONTRACT WOULD BE THE FOCUS OF THE EVALUATION AND WOULD BE USED TO MEASURE CLIENT PROGRESS. IT WAS FOUND THAT 88 PERCENT OF THE CLIENTS WERE SUCCESSFULLY COUNSELED. THESE RESULTS REMAINED THE SAME REGARDLESS OF THE REFERRAL SOURCE AND THE INITIAL PROBLEM OF THE CLIENTS. BECAUSE NO CONTROL WAS PROVIDED IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT SUCH INTERVENTION. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT SUCCESSFUL CONTRACTING WAS POSITIVELY CORRELATED WITH CLIENT'S LENGTH OF STAY. NUMBER OF TREATMENT SESSIONS AND QUALITY OF TREATMENT CORRELATED POSITIVELY WITH SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. FOLLOWING 30 OF THE CLIENTS FOR 3 TO 27 MONTHS AFTER TREATMENT, IT WAS FOUND THAT 18 (60 PERCENT) HAD NO FURTHER JUVENILE ARRESTS. THIS 40 PERCENT RECIDIVISM FIGURE IS 19.6 PERCENT LOWER THAN THE AVERAGE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR THE COUNTY. TABLES AND LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MLC)