NCJ Number
68098
Journal
COMMUNITY HOME SCHOOLS GAZETTE Issue: 71 Dated: (1978) Pages: 454-464
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE ARTICLE TRACES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICE'S 'REVOLUTION' IN CARE FOR TROUBLED CHILDREN WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT.
Abstract
IN 1972, THE LAST OF THE 19TH CENTURY YOUTH INSTITUTIONS WAS CLOSED. INSTITUTIONS WERE REORGANIZED INTO THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES CONSISTING OF INDIVIDUAL COTTAGES WHERE YOUTH COULD MAKE MOST OF THE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM AND BEHAVIOR. INCORRECT COST-ESTIMATES THE LACK OF A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF COMMUNITY-BASED FACILITIES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE REDTAPE CAUSED MANY SMALL COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCIES TO FAIL. ONLY TWO ARE STILL FUNCTIONING, THE COMMUNITY ADVANCED PROGRAM (CAP) AND THE DYNAMIC ACTION RESIDENCE ENTERPRISE (DARE). STUDIES SHOWING AN APPARENT LACK OF SUCCESS OF COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT AS COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT PLACED THE SYSTEM IN JEOPARDY. THE FIRST PRIORITY OF THE CURRENT (1978) YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN THE POLITICAL SURVIVAL OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED SYSTEM, UNDERLINED BY AN INCREASED CONCERN FOR SECURITY. A TASK FORCE HAS RECOMMENDED THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR 3 MORE SECURE TREATMENT FACILITIES AND 12 MORE DETENTION SLOTS. HOWEVER, THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT OFTEN FAILS TO PROVIDE DESPERATELY NEEDED HELP, AS EVIDENCED BY THE DEPARTMENTALLY SENSITIVE ISSUE OF THE INADEQUACY OF SERVICES FOR GIRLS. FINALLY, THE SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY HAS BEEN IMPROVED, ALTHOUGH SOME ABUSES STILL EXIST.