NCJ Number
67933
Date Published
1976
Length
76 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM AN EVALUATION OF A SHORT TERM CRISIS INTERVENTION RESIDENCE FOR JUVENILE GIRLS IN OAKLAND, CALIF.
Abstract
KAIROS UNLIMITED IS A CRISIS-ORIENTED RESIDENCE FOR GIRLS AGED 12 TO 18 WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MINOR DELINQUENT OFFENSES OR FAMILY CONFLICT AND WHO ARE DEEMED TO BE AT RISK FOR SERIOUS DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. BED AND BOARD ARE PROVIDED WITH CONTINUED SUPERVISION; INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND FAMILY COUNSELING; ARTS AND CRAFTS; REFERRAL; AND 2-WEEK AND 2-MONTH POST RELEASE FOLLOWUP. THE PROGRAM WAS INCORPORATED IN 1971, AND THE FINAL EVALUATION WAS COMPLETED IN 1976. THE EVALUATION CONSISTED OF INTERVIEWS WITH PROGRAM STAFF AND THE STAFF OF COMMUNITY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES RELATED TO THE PROGRAM, AN EXAMINATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM, AN EXAMINATION OF INFORMATION GAINED FROM RANDOM EXAMINATION OF CLIENT RECORDS (14 OF THE 60 CASE FILES WERE EXAMINED IN DEPTH), AND INTERVIEWS WITH SELECTED CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM APPEARS TO BE OPERATING SUCCESSFULLY, WITH NO MAJOR ADMINISTRATIVE, FISCAL, OR SERVICE PROBLEMS. THE PROGRAM'S FOLLOWUP WORK IS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSIVE. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE (1) MORE REALISTIC BUDGET PLANNING, (2) BETTER USE OF FOLLOWUP INFORMATION FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, (3) STRENGTHENING OF FAMILY COUNSELING, (4) BETTER CLEANING OF FACILITIES, AND (5) A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER EXPANDING THE PROGRAM'S CAPACITY WOULD BE MORE COSTEFFECTIVE. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE PROVIDED.