PITTSBURGH - THREE RIVERS YOUTH - EXEMPLARY PROJECT VALIDATION REPORT

• NCJ Number: 30723
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 74 pages
• Grant Number(s): DS-74-C-C04-9-488
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Abt Associates, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EXEMPLARY PROJECT - VALIDATION REPORT

Annotation

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE GOAL ACHIEVEMENT, REPLICABILITY, MEASURABILITY, EFFICIENCY, AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THIS COMMUNITY BASED RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES A SURROGATE HOME SETTING FOR DISTURBED OR DELINQUENT YOUTH.

Abstract

THE THREE RIVERS YOUTH (TRY) PROJECT IN PITTSBURGH OPERATES GROUP HOMES FOR ADOLESCENTS REQUIRING TREATMENT WHO SHOULD NOT (FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS) REMAIN IN THEIR FAMILY HOMES OR IN INSTITUTIONS. THE PROGRAM MAINTAINS FIVE GROUP HOMES; ONE CO-EDUCATIONAL (ORIENTATION HOUSE) AND TWO EACH FOR GIRLS AND BOYS. THE HOMES, ALL OF WHICH ARE IN DIFFERENT RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES, HAVE A COMBINED CAPACITY OF ABOUT 45 YOUTHS. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THREE RIVERS YOUTH IS TO PREPARE ADOLESCENTS IN ITS CARE FOR INDEPENDENT ADULT LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY. CONSISTENT WITH THIS GENERAL GOAL, TRY HAS DEVELOPED THE FOLLOWING FIVE INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVES: TO SUPPLY A SURROGATE HOME FOR YOUTH DRAWING ON AN EXTENDED-FAMILY MODEL; TO PROVIDE PROGRAM-BASED SOCIAL SERVICES SUCH AS COUNSELING, EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING; TO UTILIZE COMMUNITY SERVICES; TO PROVIDE A 'DIFFERENTIAL PLACEMENT APPROACH', TRANSFERRING YOUTHS BETWEEN HOMES WHEN PROBLEMS DEVELOP; AND TO MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. YOUTH ARE REFERRED PRIMARILY BY THE JUVENILE COURT AND DEPARTMENT OF CHILD WELFARE. EVALUATION ACTIVITIES CONSISTED OF A REVIEW OF PROJECT-GENERATED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING AN INTERIM EVALUATION REPORT, AN ON-SITE VISIT, AND INTERVIEWS WITH STAFF, RESIDENTS, AND REFERRAL SOURCE PERSONNEL. GOAL ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCESSIBILITY WERE FOUND TO BE GOOD. SOME PROBLEMS WERE NOTED IN PROGRAM MEASURABILITY AND EFFICIENCY MEASURES. PROBLEMS IN PROGRAM REPLICABILITY INCLUDED HIGH PROGRAM COSTS, THE POSSIBLE DEPENDENCE OF THE PROGRAM ON A SUPERIOR ADMINISTRATOR AND THE LACK OF A STRONG PROGRAM EVALUATION. PROGRAM STRENGTHS INCLUDED THE FLEXIBLE HOMELIKE STYLE OF THE GROUP HOMES, THE RANGE OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES OFFERED, THE QUALITY OF THE STAFF, ITS VIRTUALLY OPEN ADMISSIONS POLICY, AND ITS USE OF A NETWORK OF HOUSES TO TRANSFER YOUTHS WITH DIFFICULTIES, RATHER THAN RETURNING THEM TO INSTITUTIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)