NCJ Number
55540
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 58 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 37-47
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN HELPING JUVENILES SUSTAIN THE BEHAVIORS AND ATTITUDES LEARNED AS PARTICIPANTS IN OUTWARD BOUND--A SHORT-TERM, INTENSIVE PROGRAM FOR BREAKING DELINQUENCY PATTERNS--IS EXPLORED.
Abstract
OUTWARD BOUND PRESENTS JUVENILE DELINQUENTS WITH A SERIES OF PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES IN A STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT. THE PHYSICAL CHALLENGES ARE SUCH ACTIVITIES AS BACKPACKING, SAILING, AND ROCK CLIMBING. THE SOCIAL STRESS IS DEVELOPED WITHIN PATROL GROUPS, WHICH DEMAND COOPERATION AND LEADERSHIP FROM EACH PARTICIPANT. THE PURPOSE IS TO BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM. MOST OUTWARD BOUND EXPERIENCES LAST 1 MONTH AND CONSIST OF 5 PHASES: SKILLS TRAINING, A LONG EXPEDITION, A 3-DAY PERIOD OF WILDERNESS SURVIVAL AND SOLITUDE, FINAL TESTING, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT OUTWARD BOUND IS MORE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM THAN ARE ROUTINE REHABILITATION METHODS USED IN INSTITUTIONS. SOCIAL WORKERS COULD BECOME INVOLVED IN OUTWARD BOUND BY SERVING AS LEADERS IN THE PROGRAM AND BY PROVIDING SUPPORT AND COUNSELING TO YOUTHS AFTER THEIR OUTWARD BOUND EXPERIENCE. HAVING SHARED AS LEADERS STRESSFUL SITUATIONS WITH THE YOUTHS, SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO HELP THE YOUTHS APPLY THEIR OUTWARD BOUND EXPERIENCES IN DAILY LIVING. SUCH FOLLOWUP COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY-BASED AGENCY THAT OFFERS OUTWARD BOUND ALUMNI COUNSELING, ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE PLACEMENT, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUTWARD BOUND-LIKE OUTINGS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)