EVALUATION OF TREATMENT IN THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES PROBLEMS OF DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

• NCJ Number: 61637
• Journal: Evaluation and Program Planning Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (1979) Pages: 41-48
• Author(s): W E BERG
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

METHODS AND DESIGN ARE DESCRIBED FOR THE EVALUATION OF A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY FOR CHRONIC DRUG ABUSERS.

Abstract

THE PROGRAM EVALUATED WAS FOR CHRONIC ABUSERS WHO HAD, AS A RESULT OF THEIR DRUG-RELATED NEEDS, BEEN INVOLVED IN OTHER TYPES OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, AND WHO LIVED IN A RESIDENTIAL THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY ADMINISTERED AND OPERATED BY EX-ADDICTS WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY UNDERGONE TREATMENT IN SIMILAR FACILITIES. WHEN EVALUATION BEGAN, THE PROGRAM HAD BEEN IN OPERATION FOR 6 MONTHS, WITH A RESIDENT POPULATION OF ABOUT 30 CLIENTS AND 5 ADMINISTRATORS OR COUNSELORS. EVALUATION WAS UNDERTAKEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE LOCAL FUNDING AGENCIES TO DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF CONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE PROPOSED TREATMENT PLAN AND ACTUAL PROGRAM OPERATION. UNIQUE PROBLEMS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EVALUATION INCLUDED THE RESISTANCE OF STAFF TO THE PRESENCE AND PERCEIVED JUDGEMENTS OF 'OUTSIDERS' VIS-A-VIS THE COMMUNITY AND THE DIVERSE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH TOTAL COMMUNITY TREATMENT. WITHIN A 6-WEEK PERIOD, THE EVALUATOR HAD MOVED FROM THE POSITION OF AN OUTSIDER TO THAT OF PARTICIPANT OBSERVER, GAINED INSIGHTS INTO THE OPERATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND DEVELOPED A COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH RESIDENTS AND STAFF. WITH THEM, HE CONSTRUCTED A LIST OF TREATMENT METHODS AND ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES, TRANSLATING THE TREATMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT PROPOSAL INTO PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. THESE ACTIVITIES WERE THEN COMPARED WITH THE ACTUAL ACTIVITIES AND TREATMENT METHODS USED IN THE COMMUNITY. ON THE BASIS OF THIS REPORT, THE FUNDING AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY STAFF DISCUSSED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROGRAM GOALS, AS UNDERSTOOD BY THE AGENCIES, AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TREATMENT COMMUNITY. WHILE THE EVALUATION REPORT DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, IT HELPED TO REFINE THE PERCEPTIONS OF EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.