NCJ Number
63468
Date Published
1979
Length
21 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS ARE REPORTED FOR A FLORIDA SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT TREATMENT PROGRAM CONSISTING OF FAMILY THERAPY, A 4-WEEK DAY CAMP, AND LIMITED FOLLOWUP ACTIVITIES WITH SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES.
Abstract
THE PURPOSES OF THE PROJECT ARE TO CHANGE THE UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIORS OF THE CHILDREN (PARTICULARLY IN THE SCHOOL SETTING) AND TO CHANGE THE CHILD'S HOME ENVIORONMENT. THE EVALUATION INVOLVED AN ONSITE VISIT, AN EXAMINATION OF PROJECT-GENERATED DATA, AND RESULTS OF A BEHAVIOR CHECKLIST ADMINISTERED TO PROJECT PARTICIPANTS. SEVENTY-NINE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CAMPING PORTION OF THE PROJECT DURING THE LAST 2 YEARS, WITH SEVERAL FAMILIES REPRESENTED BY MORE THAN ONE CHILD. THE PROJECT STAFF ARE WELL-QUALIFIED, AND OVER ONE-THIRD OF THE COUNSELORS WERE INVOLVED IN BOTH YEARS OF THE PROJECT. THERE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT COOPERATION FROM OTHER AGENCIES, WITH OVER $7,000 OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES SUPPLIED LOCALLY. THE PROJECT'S QUANTITATIVE MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES WERE MET; THE EXCEPTION WAS FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CAMPING PHASE. THIS FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO EXCESSIVE RAIN AND A NEW CAMPSITE THAT IS SOME DISTANCE FROM TOWN. QUALITATIVE DATA. AS MEASURED BY THE BEHAVIOR CHECKLIST, SHOWED OVERALL POSITIVE BEHAVIOR CHANGES DURING THE CAMPING PHASE. POSITIVE CHANGES ALSO WERE REPORTED BY PARENTS, ALTHOUGH TO A LESSER DEGREE. TEACHERS REPORTED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN BEHAVIOR AND ACADEMIC WORK WHEN SURVEYED 2 MONTHS AFTER THE CAMP. CONTINUATION OF THE PROJECT IS JUSTIFIED BY THE RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION. SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES, INCLUDING AN INTENSIFICATION OF THE FOLLOWUP ACTIVITIES AS A METHOD FOR IMPROVING FAMILY LIFE AND THE INCLUSION OF CAPABILITIES FOR EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT'S IMPACTS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES. EVALUATION DATA AND A SAMPLE OF OF THE BEHAVIOR CHECKLIST ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)