NCJ Number
204969
Date Published
2004
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of the Earlscourt Girls Connection (EGC), which is a gender-specific treatment program for aggressive and antisocial girls under 12 years old.
Abstract
The positive changes that occurred in these young girls' over time indicates that the EGC program is effective in addressing many of their aggressive attitudes and behaviors. The evaluation found a significant improvement over 6-month and 12-month intervals on parent ratings of the girls' angry and resentful behavior, temper tantrums, and irritable dispositions. Parents' ratings for the girls' cruelty, bullying, and physical attacks showed a decrease for both the 6-month and 12-month intervals. Multivariate analysis of items that describe defiant attitudes and behavior did not show an overall improvement over the two intervals, and there was no significant multivariate change in ratings of the girls' delinquent behaviors and vandalism over the two time periods. In the area of peer relationships, there was a significant improvement over both time intervals in girls' abilities to wait their turn, avoid fights, and get along with friends. The girls' relationships with adults were rated as improved in several items over the two time intervals. The EGC program focuses on building positive relationships between girls and their mothers through enhancing parenting behaviors as well as through guided interactions toward positive mother-daughter relationships. The evaluation examined data for 98 of the 250 girls who participated in the program during its first 4 years of operation. Admission data were compared to 6-month and 12-month follow-up data on anger regulation, aggressive behavior, defiant attitudes and behaviors, delinquency and vandalism, and prosocial behaviors. 32 references