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YOUTH GUIDANCE PROGRAM - AN EVALUATION

NCJ Number
34901
Author(s)
J HUNT
Date Published
1975
Length
125 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THIS PROGRAM WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO DIVERT YOUTHS FROM ENTERING FORMAL ADJUDICATORY CHANNELS THROUGH IMPROVEMENT OF FAMILY RELATIONS AND AN UPGRADING OF THE YOUTH'S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.
Abstract
BASIC FEATURES OF THE YOUTH GUIDANCE PROGRAM INCLUDED NIGHTLY GROUP MEETINGS IN WHICH YOUTHS PARTICIPATED IN STUDY, COUNSELING, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES; USE OF A POINT SYSTEM TO POSITIVELY REINFORCE DESIRABLE BEHAVIORS AND NEGATIVELY REINFORCE UNWANTED BEHAVIORS; AND FAMILY COUNSELING SESSIONS ATTENDED BY PARENTS. INDIVIDUAL ASPECTS OF THE ENTIRE PROGRAM ARE EVALUATED IN TURN. IT IS NOTED THAT EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM WAS MADE VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO THE CONTINUAL ADJUSTMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS MADE DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM. THE POINT SYSTEM USED DURING THE PROGRAM IS FIRST EVALUATED. SINCE THREE TYPES OF SYSTEMS WERE ACTUALLY EMPLOYED, THE RELATIVE MERITS OF EACH SYSTEM ARE EXAMINED AND COMPARED. UTILIZATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES BY THE PROGRAM IS ALSO EXAMINED. IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE VALIDITY OF THE YOUTH GUIDANCE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS WERE DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES RELATIVE TO THEIR DEGREE OF SUCCESS OR FAILURE IN PROGRAM INVOLVEMENT: PROGRAM SUCCESSES, PROGRAM RECIDIVISTS, AND PROGRAM NON-COMPLETIONS. CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH OF THESE GROUPS ARE COMPARED. THE RECIDIVISM RATES OF PROGRAM RECIDIVISTS, PROGRAM NON-COMPLETIONS, AND RECIDIVISTS FROM A CONTROL GROUP OF YOUTHS ARE ALSO COMPARED. FINALLY, THE OPINIONS OF PARENTS AND YOUTHS ON THE PROGRAM ARE EXAMINED.