NCJ Number
54424
Date Published
1977
Length
37 pages
Annotation
THE TRANSITION OF THE FLORIDA FAMILY GROUP HOME PROGRAM TO A KEY COMMITMENT RESOURCE IS RATED A SUCCESS IN THIS EVALUATION FOR 1975-76.
Abstract
THE FAMILY GROUP HOME PROGRAM (FGH) IS A SIZABLE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM FOR DELINQUENTS OFFERED BY YOUTH SERVICES (YS) OF FLORIDA'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES. UNDER THE PROGRAM CONTRACTING PRIVATE HOMES PROVIDE FOSTER FAMILY RESIDENCE AND SUPPORTIVE SUPERVISION FOR ADJUDICATED YOUTHS WHOSE FAMILIES CANNOT MEET THIS NEED. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1972 IT HAS CHANGED FROM A PROBATION OR AFTERCARE SUPERVISION PROGRAM TO A COMMITMENT PROGRAM. IN 1972-73, ALL OF THE YOUTHS WERE NONCOMMITTED; IN 1974-75, THE FIGURE WAS 49 PERCENT AND IN 1975-76, IT WAS 85 PERCENT. A ONE-THIRD SAMPLE OF THE YOUTHS PLACED IN EACH HOME WAS SELECTED FOR THIS EVALUATION; THIS PROCEDURE YIELDED 190 CASES. THE PROFILE OF THE 1975-76 SAMPLE VARIED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THAT OF 1974-75 ONLY IN HAVING A SMALLER PROPORTION OF FEMALES, AND CONSIDERABLY FEWER YOUNGSTERS WHOSE PLACEMENT CHARGE WAS A STATUS OFFENSE. ALTHOUGH IN THE 1975-76 SAMPLE THERE WERE MORE SERIOUS BEHAVIOR AND ATTENDANCE PROBLEMS AT BOTH ENTRY AND DEPARTURE THAN IN THE 1974-75 POPULATION, AND FEWER IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL MEASURES, THE PROGRAM PRODUCED FAVORABLE OUTCOMES WITH THIS MORE DIFFICULT GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS. THE STUDY DESIGN UTILIZED 'BEFORE' AND 'AFTER' QUESTIONNAIRE FORMS COMPLETED BY THE COUNSELORS AT THE TIME OF ENTRY AND EXIT TO PROVIDE BACKGROUND DATA SUCH AS AGE, SEX, AND RACE, AS WELL AS OFFENSE HISTORY, SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, BEHAVIORAL EVALUATIONS, AND ATTITUDINAL INFORMATION ON HOW THE CHILD AND THEIR PARENTS FEEL ABOUT THE PLACEMENT. TO DETERMINE THE POSTPROGRAM SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF FGH CHILDREN, YS COMMITMENT FILES WERE EXAMINED FOR EVIDENCE OF COMMITMENT/RECOMMITMENT TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWUP PERIOD WAS 10 TO 16 MONTHS. SINCE THE RECOMMENDED PROFESSIONAL STANDARD FOR RECIDIVISM STUDIES IS A 3 YEAR FOLLOWUP, THE POSTPROGRAM RESULTS REPORTED HERE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TENTATIVE. HOWEVER, THE SUCCESS RATE WAS PUT AT 72 PERCENT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE FGH CAN PROVIDE A RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH QUITE A WIDE RANGE OF COMMITTED DELINQUENT CHILDREN, IN SMALL, HUMANE, NONINSTITUTIONAL, COMMUNITY SETTINGS. TABLES, QUESTIONNAIRE SAMPLES, AND AN OFFENSE CODE ARE PROVIDED IN THE APPENDIX.