NCJ Number
171473
Journal
Social Work Volume: 41 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1996) Pages: 375-381
Date Published
1996
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article describes an innovative group work project designed for a large urban juvenile probation department.
Abstract
The project targets 16- to-20-year-old African-American and Latino youth on probation who are at high risk of rearrest. It uses cognitive-behavioral approaches that reflect the culture of contemporary urban youth. Twelve to 15 members are assigned to each group, and probationers' commitments to school, training, substance abuse treatment, or employment are accommodated. Group sessions are led by probation officers who receive intensive training in group work methods. The 32 sessions of the groups are divided into four modules of eight 105-minute meetings. The modules move from a highly predetermined structure, during which the probationers have restricted opportunity for personal participation. Role playing provides an opportunity for rehearsal and application of session content. The group focus on teaching members specific skills; these skills enable them to perform the tasks required to achieve personal goals. Each probationer in the group identifies a short-term goal. Through skill-building techniques, members learn to organize daily schedules, follow routines, and develop tools for prosocial interpersonal skills. Preliminary comparisons between youth who participated in the groups and those who received traditional probation supervision suggest a marked reduction in rearrest rates for the group participants. 21 references