NCJ Number
58582
Date Published
1979
Length
19 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF THE GREATER NEWARK (DELAWARE) FAMILY CRISIS COUNSELING CENTER, BASED ON OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY 1976 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1978, IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE GREATER NEWARK FAMILY CRISIS COUNSELING CENTER IS TO PROVIDE FAMILY COUNSELING FOR UP TO 40 YOUTHS PER YEAR, REFERRED PRIMARILY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, IN ORDER TO DIVERT THE YOUTHS FROM FURTHER PROCESSING IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. FAMILY COUNSELING FOR UP TO 40 STATUS OFFENDERS REFERRED FROM FAMILY COURT IS ALSO PROVIDED IN LIEU OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION. THE CENTER HAS TWO COMPONENTS: THE DIVERSION COMPONENT CONSISTING OF A COUNSELOR AND A SECRETARY, AND THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION COMPONENT CONSISTING OF A PSYCHOLOGIST AND A COUNSELOR. THE CENTER PROPOSED TO PROVIDE 1 HOUR OF FAMILY COUNSELING PER WEEK FOR UP TO 6 WEEKS. IF A FAMILY FAILED TO KEEP APPOINTMENTS, THEY WERE TERMINATED AS 'NO PROGRESS'. THE DIVERSION COMPONENT ACCEPTED 134 REFERRALS OVER 24 MONTHS; 84 YOUTHS AND FAMILIES COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. THE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION COMPONENT ACCEPTED 85 CLIENTS; 70 YOUTHS COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. IN RESPONSE TO MAILED QUESTIONNARIES REFERRAL SOURCES INDICATED SATISFACTION WITH THE CENTER. ALTHOUGH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CENTER WERE MET, IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHETHER THE YOUTHS SERVED WERE DIVERTED FROM FURTHER PROCESSING OR WERE SIMPLY RELEASED TO THEIR PARENTS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MOST DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS AND NOT A CRITICISM OF THE CENTER EXCLUSIVELY. A NUMBER OF FISCAL AND PROGRAMMATIC PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED WITH THE CENTER DURING 1978. THE GRANT FOR 1979 WAS APPROVED, HOWEVER, WITH A NUMBER OF SPECIAL CONDITIONS. NO RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE. SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR THE CENTER ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED). (LWM)