NCJ Number
208017
Date Published
September 2004
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study sought to identify the criteria by which children and adolescents in Slovenia are deemed to have such serious behavioral and emotional problems that they must be removed from their homes and schools to be placed in state-run facilities ("educational institutions") programmed to address their needs and change their behaviors.
Abstract
Questionnaires were administered to the 161 staff members serving in 61 educational institutions in Slovenia, in order to determine what criteria they apply to deciding to place a youth in an educational institution. A total of 133 of the questionnaires were sufficiently complete to be used in the analysis. Approximately half of the respondents indicated they apply formal screening measures in determining whether to place a youth in an educational institution; whereas, the other half had no such formal decisionmaking guidelines. For institutions that had placement criteria, the following factors were considered: all other options have been ruled out; the home is too abusive for the child to remain; maladjustment in school; serious behavioral difficulties as measured by psychological testing; and the existence of a suitable institutional program. For the facilities that have no screening criteria, each case is assessed according to the personal perceptions and criteria of the professionals involved in the decisionmaking. This paper recommends that screening instruments be developed to provide a more objective standard for placement, such that the discretionary and subjective judgments of those charged with placement decisions do not contribute to the inappropriate and stigmatizing removal of a child from his/her familiar environment. 1 table, 4 notes, and 49 references