NCJ Number
53045
Journal
Social Work Volume: 23 Issue: 6 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1978) Pages: 486-491
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THE ORGANIZATIONAL DYNAMICS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE SURVIVAL OF ONE COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR TROUBLED ADOLESCENTS AND TO THE DEMISE OF ANOTHER SIMILAR PROGRAM IN THE SAME CITY ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
IN 1972, PROFESSIONAL HOMES FOR ADOLESCENTS AND FAMILY HOMES FOR YOUTH (FICTITIOUS NAMES) WERE OPERATING A TOTAL OF 10 GROUP HOMES IN THE SAME COMMUNITY. PROFESSIONAL HOMES HAD BEEN A LOCAL INNOVATION, WHEREAS FAMILY HOMES WAS OPERATED BY A PROPRIETARY AGENCY HEADQUARTERED OUTSIDE THE STATE UNDER A PURCHASE-OF-SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES. THE TWO PROGRAMS DIFFERED ORGANIZATIONALLY ALONG FIVE DIMENSIONS: (1) PROFESSIONAL HOMES WAS CONTROLLED BY AN ELITE LOCAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHILE FAMILY HOMES HAD NO LOCAL CONTACTS; (2) PROFESSIONAL HOMES MAINTAINED A HIGHLY DIFFERENTIATED ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN, IN CONTRAST TO FAMILY HOMES' EMPHASIS ON INFORMALITY AND SIMPLICITY OF STRUCTURE; (3) PROFESSIONAL HOMES EMPLOYED PEOPLE WITH ACADEMIC DEGREES AND EMPHASIZED STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, WHEREAS FAMILY HOMES RELIED PRIMARILY ON A PARAPROFESSIONAL WORK FORCE; (4) PROFESSIONAL HOMES' CLIENTELE WAS PRIMARILY LOCAL, WHEREAS FAMILY HOMES DREW ALL OF ITS CLIENTS FROM A NEIGHBORING CITY WITH AN OVERLOAD OF TROUBLED YOUTHS WHOM NO OTHER AGENCY WOULD ACCEPT; AND (5) PROFESSIONAL HOMES STRESSED COMMUNITY RELATIONS, WHILE FAMILY HOMES TOOK AN ADVERSARY STANCE VIS-A-VIS THE COMMUNITY. FAMILY HOMES ALSO FAILED TO COOPERATE WITH OTHER HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES AND WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM. COMMUNITY PRESSURE EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN THE STATE CANCELLING ITS PURCHASE CONTRACT WITH FAMILY HOMES. THE EXPERIENCE OF FAMILY HOMES POINTS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF A NUMBER OF NON-TREATMENT-RELATED ISSUES IN DETERMINING THE SURVIVAL OR FAILURE OF A PROGRAM. FAMILY HOMES ACCEPTED A NUMBER OF YOUTHS WHOM PROFESSIONAL HOMES REJECTED AND WAS RELATIVELY SUCCESSFUL IN TREATING THEM. BUT FAMILY HOMES FAILED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ITS ULTIMATE DEPENDENCE ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY FOR ITS CONTINUED EXISTENCE.