Life Interventions for Family Effectiveness (LIFE) Project: Preliminary Findings on Alternative School Intervention for Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 218498
• Journal: Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2007 Pages: 57-68
• Author(s): Donnie W. Watson; Michelle Mouttapa; Chris Reiber; William Jason McCuller; Ruben Arancibia; Julia A. Kavich; Elena Nieves; Judith Novgrod; Noemi Mai; Lorrie Bisesi; Tiffanie Sim
• Date Published: March 2007
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reports the results of an evaluation to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a family-based comprehensive substance abuse intervention program for at-risk adolescents and their families known as the Life Intervention for Family Effectiveness (LIFE) project.

Abstract

Results indicated modest but promising effectiveness of the LIFE project at decreasing psychiatric symptoms and at increasing project attendance and completion in participants. Exit interviews suggested that participants enjoyed the multi-component approach that incorporated clinical intervention activities with alternative-type activities such as SoundArt. The results also shed light on the importance of including individual, family, and group interventions for this population. Future research should incorporate a longer follow-up period to determine any possible delayed outcomes from the LIFE project. Participants were 58 Latino and African-American delinquent adolescents attending 2 alternative schools in Southern California. LIFE intervention was administered for 28 participants in 1 school while social services as usual were delivered to 30 participants in the other school. Data collection involved face-to-face interviews and paper-and-pencil surveys prior to beginning intervention and at the close of the 12-week intervention. Data under examination included demographic characteristics, addiction, problem-orientation, delinquency involvement, employment, school status, family/social relationships, and psychiatric status. The two groups of participants were compared using separate variance between-groups t-tests and ANOVAS. The LIFE project utilized the Matrix Adolescent Treatment Model of program delivery that strives to deliver a comprehensive therapeutic approach by including activities at school, at community locations, and at the participants’ homes. Program activities included computer literacy, computer assisted graphic arts, and musical expressive arts. Table, figures, references