NCJ Number
58605
Journal
Social Work Volume: 23 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 300-305
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
OVERALL BEHAVIOR PATTERNS EXHIBITED BY FOUR YOUTHS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM AT A GROUP HOME ARE NOTED, AND THE EFFICACY OF THE GROUP HOME AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION IS CONSIDERED.
Abstract
IT IS EXTIMATED THAT OVER 100,000 ADOLESCENTS ARE HOSPITALIZED YEARLY FOR MENTAL ILLNESS. FRYE HOUSE, OPENED IN 1970, HAS A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR YOUTH WHO ARE UNABLE TO LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS DESPITE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING. THE MODEL OF A HIGHLY STRUCTURED THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY BASED ON TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS AND REPARENTING HAS BEEN ADOPTED IN AN EFFORT TO DEAL WITH YOUTH DIAGNOSED AS PSYCHOTIC OR AS BORDERLINE PSYCHOTIC. NO ONE IS DENIED ADMISSION TO THE HOME ON THE BASIS OF A DIAGNOSTIC LABEL, PREVIOUS BEHAVIOR, OR PRIOR PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT. COUNSELORS HAVE A DEEP AFFECTION FOR TEENAGERS WHO LIVE IN THE GROUP HOME. THEY RESPECT THE RIGHT AND ABILITY OF EACH YOUNG PERSON TO WORK OUT HIS OR HER FUTURE, AND THEY INSIST THAT THE HOME BE GOVERNED BY PRINCIPLES OF PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY. COUNSELORS ARE WILLING TO BE SELF-CRITICAL AND ATTENTIVE TO DEPARTURES FROM RULES THAT HAVE BEEN MUTUALLY DETERMINED WITH HOME RESIDENTS. ONE OR MORE CONSULTANTS ARE AVAILABLE, AND A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY EXISTS OUSIDE THE HOME. CASE STUDIES OF FOUR YOUTH DEMONSTRATE THE SUCCESS OF THE HOME'S PROGRAM IN CHANGING OVERALL PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR. WITH LITTLE FINANCIAL OR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FROM THEIR PARENTS AND WITHOUT A COLLEGE EDUCATION, THE FOUR YOUTH HAVE MANAGED TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR OWN. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.