NCJ Number
56450
Date Published
1978
Length
20 pages
Annotation
CASE STUDIES ILLUSTRATE THE 'FAMILY SEMINAR' APPROACH USED TO TEACH UNTRAINED HOUSE PARENTS AND COUNSELORS HOW TO WORK WITH RUNAWAY ADOLESCENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND TO DOCUMENT THE VARIOUS FAMILY PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED.
Abstract
THE SAJA PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A GROUP OF FACILITIES IN WASHINGTON, D.C. DESIGNED TO HELP RUNAWAY YOUTH: A SHORT STAY FACILITY NAMED RUNAWAY HOUSE PLUS GROUP HOMES FOR LONGER STAYS. MOST OF THE COUNSELORS WERE YOUNG AND IDEALISTIC, BUT FEW HAD ANY FORMAL PSYCHOLOGICAL OR SOCIAL WORK TRAINING. 'FAMILY SEMINARS' WERE USED TO TEACH THEM HOW TO WORK WITH THE RUNAWAYS AND THE FAMILIES. THESE 2-HOUR MEETINGS WERE HELD WEEKLY. SOME THEORY WAS PRESENTED, WORKERS WOULD PRESENT A NEW FAMILY CASE HISTORY WHICH ALL WOULD DISCUSS, AND OTHERS WOULD PRESENT ONGOING PROBLEMS FOR FAMILIES WHICH HAD BEEN IN COUNSELING. ADDITIONAL MEETINGS WERE SCHEDULED FOR WORKERS WITH UNUSUALLY DIFFICULT PROBLEMS. THESE SESSIONS EMPHASIZED THAT RUNNING AWAY IS OFTEN A DESPERATE ASSERTION OF SELFHOOD ON THE PART OF THE YOUNG PERSON. SOME ARE PROTESTING AGAINST FAMILIAL CONSTRAINTS AND CONFUSIONS. OTHERS HAVE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS SUCH AS PREGNANCY. STILL OTHERS RESENT BEING DEFINED AND TREATED AS MENTALLY ILL OR DELINQUENT. A SERIES OF CASE STUDIES ILLUSTRATE EACH OF THESE SITUATIONS. BECAUSE THE COUNSELORS WERE THEMSELVES YOUNG, THEY FREQUENTLY SIDED WITH THE ADOLESCENT AND FAILED TO SEE THE PARENT'S PROBLEMS. THE TRAINING SESSIONS HAVE FOCUSED ON THE COMPLEX WEB WHICH CHARACTERIZES FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND HAVE TRIED TO DEVELOP APPRECIATION FOR THE HUMANNESS OF ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED.