HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (FL) STUDENT ADVISOR - INTERVENTION VERSUS INTAKE - EVALUATION REPORT

• NCJ Number: 63478
• Author(s): K S TEMPLEMAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 132 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-A1-12-A301; 77-A1-12-AA01; PS-75-AS-12-A102; 76-A1-12-FA01; 77-A1-12-FA01
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Hillsborough Cty Criminal Justice Planning Unit
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE STUDENT ADVISOR PROJECT IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLA., IN WHICH FULL-TIME ADVISORS WORK WITH DELINQUENT AND PREDELINQUENT YOUTH IN SELECTED JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS, IS EVALUATED.

Abstract

THE PROJECT, BEGUN IN 1975, WITH LEAA FUNDING, IS INTENDED TO PREVENT TRUANCY, AND REDUCE SUSPENSIONS, DISRUPTIVE CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR, AND SUBSEQUENT ACTS OF DELINQUENCY. THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. STUDENTS ARE REFERRED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES (DHRS), LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, DEANS, PRINCIPALS, AND OTHER SCHOOL STAFF. PROJECT SERVICES INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND FAMILY COUNSELING, AND EDUCATIONAL REMEDIATION. INITIAL PROBLEMS IN ADMINISTERING, COORDINATING, DESIGNING, AND STAFFING THE PROJECT WERE RESOLVED BY THE END OF THE FIRST GRANT YEAR. INTERVIEWS WITH SCHOOL STAFF INDICATED CONFIDENCE IN THE PROGRAM, ALTHOUGH THE DEGREE OF SUPPORT VARIED. ADDITIONAL DATA WERE COLLECTED USING A STRATIFIED, SYSTEMATIC SAMPLE OF 169 STUDENTS (ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF THE SECOND YEAR'S TOTAL). THE STUDENTS' AVERAGE AGE WAS 14.7 YEARS. MOST WERE IN EIGHTH OR NINTH GRADES AND ABOUT ONE THIRD LIVED WITH BOTH NATURAL PARENTS. RESULTS SHOWED THAT MOST OF THE STUDENTS MADE PROGRESS IN AT LEAST ONE MEASURABLE OBJECTIVE, AND HALF THE MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES WERE MET. DATE COLLECTED AND REPORTED BY PROJECT STAFF ON ALL THE 1976 PROGRAM'S STUDENTS WERE MORE POSITIVE THAN THE EVALUATION SAMPLE DATA. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT (1) A SINGLE SET OF SOUND PROGRAM OBJECTIVES BE ESTABLISHED; (2) THE PROGRAM BE USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL SCHOOL DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES; (3) CASELOAD SIZES BE REDUCED; (4) SPECIFIC, WRITTEN TREATMENT GOALS BE ESTABLISHED FOR EACH STUDENT SERVED; (5) SPECIFIC CRITERIA FOR RELEASING STUDENTS FROM THE PROGRAM BE DEVELOPED; AND (6) IMPROVED EVALUATION PROCEDURES BE DEVELOPED. FOOTNOTES, TABLES, AND APPENDIXES PRESENTING THE EVALUATION DESIGN, MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES, AND STUDY INSTRUMENTS, ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)