TREATING DELINQUENTS IN THE COMMUNITY - A BEHAVIORAL MODEL FOR CYDA (CENTERS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT) HOMEPARENTS

• NCJ Number: 36936
• Author(s): V W HARRIS; S R FINFROCK; F H WEAVER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 202 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Arizona Dept of Corrections; Arizona Dept of Economic Security
• Corporate Author: Ctrs for Youth Development and Achievement
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS MANUAL OF BEHAVIORAL GROUP HOME TREATMENTS FOR INDIAN YOUTHS IN ARIZONA OUTLINES SPECIFIC PROCEDURES OF A TOKEN ECONOMY SYSTEM TO MODIFY DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

THE HALFWAY HOUSE SETTING PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE YOUTHFUL OFFENDER TO REMAIN IN A COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOP INTERPERSONAL SKILLS WITH BOTH SEXES, CONTINUE ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN A HETEROGENEOUS ENVIRONMENT, AND DEVELOP SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN DAILY ACTIVITIES. THE PROGRAM DESCRIBED HERE ASSUMES THAT MOST ANTISOCIAL, MALADAPTIVE, OR DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IS LEARNED AND THAT IT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO MODIFICATION BY APPROPRIATELY CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS (KNOWN AS CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT). CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSERTS THAT BEHAVIOR WILL CHANGE RELATIVE TO THE AMOUNT OF REWARD OR PUNISHMENT FOLLOWING THE BEHAVIOR. THE CENTERS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT (CYDA) EMPLOY A TOKEN ECONOMY OR POINT SYSTEM TO INFLUENCE THE YOUTHS' BEHAVIOR. POINTS ARE EARNED FOR APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS AND LOST FOR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS. THE PROGRAM IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE LEVELS. EACH IS A TOTAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH RESIDENTS LEARN TO TAKE SUCCESSIVELY GREATER RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES. AT EACH PROGRESSIVE LEVEL, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GIVEN MORE FREEDOM AND THUS MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS. GUIDELINES ARE GIVEN FOR DEALING WITH MAJOR INCIDENTS AND ABSENCE-WITHOUT-LEAVE SITUATIONS. WELL-SPECIFIED PUNITIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR MAJOR-INCIDENT BEHAVIOR CONSIST OF A POINT FINE, A MONETARY FINE, A LOSS OF PRIVILEGE, A LOSS OF BONDS, A REDUCTION OF STATUS LEVEL, AND A CHARGE IN DORMITORY PLACEMENT. EVERY INCIDENT REPORT SHOULD CONTAIN NAMES OF THE TRAINEES INVOLVED, DATE AND TIME OF INCIDENT, LOCATION OF INCIDENT, NAME OF REPORTER AND DATE REPORTED, AND COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS AND CONSEQUENCES. THE MANUAL INCLUDES COPIES OF VARIOUS REPORT FORMS AND INFORMATION ON TYPES OF CYDA TRAINING PROGRAMS, ON BECOMING A HOUSEPARENT, AND ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM. THE GUIDE CONTAINS TABLES AND FIGURES AS WELL AS NUMEROUS STUDY QUESTIONS.