NCJ Number
73025
Date Published
1979
Length
32 pages
Annotation
The Prevention Specialists Program, an intensive program for preventing juvenile delinquency in the White Bear Lake area of Minnesota, is evaluated.
Abstract
The program's goal is to intervene in the lives of potentially delinquent youth prior to adolescence. The activities of the White Bear Lake Youth Resource Bureau were expanded with the formation of the Prevention Specialists Program to deal with children aged 12 and under. Prevention specialists provided therapy to the families of preschool and elementary age youth who have been identified by schools and others as potential delinquents. In addition to providing group therapy, the project aimed to provide parent education classes and adult volunteers to work with children needing extra contact and attention. From its January 1977 beginning through May 31, 1979, the program dealt with 164 youths, of whom almost three-quarters were males. The program's success in preventing delinquency could not be definitively determined due to inadequacies of available data. Although most program clients had no involvement with the criminal justice system during the 6-month and 1-year followup periods, factors other than treatment could have produced this result. The goals of providing parent education and providing adult volunteers were modified due to poor responses to the initial efforts. It was concluded that the program's goals are inherently valuable, although the program's degree of success cannot be determined. Tables and an appendix presenting additional data on the project are included.