NCJ Number
67912
Date Published
1977
Length
74 pages
Annotation
A FOSTER CARE/GROUP HOME FACILITY SERVING CLIENTS REFERRED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES (DYS) IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
BETWEEN OCTOBER 1975 AND MARCH 1977, THE TIME OF THE DYS EVALUATION, THE SYK RANCH ADMITTED 39 YOUTHS, MOST OF WHOM WERE REFERRED BY DYS. ALL WERE MALES; 91 PERCENT WERE WHITE; 38 PERCENT WERE ON DETENTION STATUS; AND 62 PERCENT WERE COMMITTED. THE EVALUATION TEAM GATHERED DATA THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH SYK ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF, AND CLIENTS, AND OTHERS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE FACILITY; REVIEWS OF CLIENT RECORDS; AND ON-SITE OBSERVATIONS. THE REPORT COVERS THE PROGRAM'S PHYSICAL FACILITIES, ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF, SERVICE COMPONENTS, RECORDKEEPING, AND RELATIONSHIP TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO DYS. THE EVALUATION TEAM FOUND THE RANCH TO BE FAILING, ALMOST COMPLETELY, IN PROVIDING THE PROPER LIVING SPACE, EDUCATIONAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES, RECREATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS, AND STAFF COVERAGE FOR ITS RESIDENTS. NO 'PROGRAM' WAS IN OPERATION AT THE RANCH, WHERE RESIDENTS SPENT MOST OF THEIR TIME DOING NOTHING OR PERFORMING THE TASKS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN RANCH PROPERTY. DYS IS SAID TO BEAR A LARGE SHARE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SITUATION AT THE RANCH BECAUSE OF ITS TACIT APPROVAL OF THE PROGRAM. DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SYK RANCH TO PROVIDE SERVICES, AND TO SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE RELATED BY RESIDENTS AND STAFF TO THE EVALUATION TEAM, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT DYS TERMINATE ALL INVOLVEMENT WITH THE PROGRAM.