NCJ Number
58789
Date Published
1978
Length
61 pages
Annotation
THE INTERDISCIPLINARY, COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH TAKEN BY A SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA PROJECT TO HELPING SEVERELY TROUBLED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE PENDLETON PROJECT, WORKING IN CONCERT WITH NINE HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES AND THROUGH ITS OWN PROFESSIONALLY STAFFED RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL, DEALS WITH SERIOUS BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN YOUNG CHILDREN (AGE 6 TO 12) IN THE COMMUNITIES OF CHESAPEAKE AND VIRGINIA BEACH. IN 4 YEARS, THE PROJECT SERVED MORE THAN 900 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DIMINISHING PROBLEM BEHAVIOR TO ACCEPTABLE LEVELS IN 75 PERCENT OF THE CASES. THE PROJECT FOCUSES ON PROBLEMS THAT APPEAR TO BE FUNCTIONS OF PERCEPTUAL/LEARNING DISABILITIES OR EMOTIONAL MALADJUSTMENT. DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT PROCEDURES ARE AIMED AT MAKING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILITES MORE SOCIALLY COMPETENT AND BETTER ABLE TO HANDLE THE PROBLEMS OF LIVING. ONE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE PENDLETON PROJECT IS THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF A DIAGNOSTIC/PRESCRIPTIVE/TREATMENT MECHANISM INVOLVING THE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA ON THE PERSONALITIES, BACKGROUNDS, BEHAVIOR, AND DEVELOPMENT OF CLIENTS. CLIENT DATA ARE BEING ANALYZED TO DETERIMINE WHAT TREATMENT APPROACHES ARE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR SPECIFIC CASE CATEGORIES (E.G., UNSTABLE FAMILY OF LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, ACTIVE CHILD DISCIPLINED NEGATIVELY BY MOTHER AND POSITIVELY BY FATHER). THE THEORETICAL UNDERPINNINGS OF THE PROJECT'S APPROACH TO DELINQUENCY AND TO TREATMENT PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ARE REVIEWED, AND KEY COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT (STAFF DEVELOPMENT, PRINCIPLES OF TREATMENT, INTERDISCIPLINARY PROFESSIONAL TEAMS, ETC.) ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL--BOTH WITH A VIEW TO FACILITATING REPLICATION OF THE PROJECT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)