In our report “Juvenile Inmates and Mental Health,” producer Patricia Flynn visits the New Horizons program in Humboldt County to find out what is being done to treat the estimated nine out of 10 minors in California’s detention system who suffer from a mental disorder.
Her story points to a new approach to public safety taking shape throughout the state and, even, throughout the U.S.: therapeutic services for troubled teens and their families.
When used as part of preventive and rehabilitative measures, family therapy has been found to keep kids on the right track. Provided by government agencies, such efforts suggest that working together, the metaphorical village and the family can overcome even the most daunting obstacles to raising a child right.
Below are excerpts from reports on juvenile justice programs that invoke the family as a indispensable component in effective correctional practice.
These data may suggest that the intense Regional Facility [New Horizons] interdisciplinary treatment program, especially the aspect that focused on work with residents’ families in family therapy, pays off when the youth leaves the Regional Facility. The lowered average level of out-of-home placement may reflect a more stabilized relationship between the youth and his or her family as a result of the Regional Facility treatment program. In addition to reducing the burden on Humboldt County in terms of out-of-home placement costs, increased family stability may help to further reduce further involvement with the criminal justice system in conjunction with other reduced risk factors.
Before JJCPA, the Department processed juvenile referrals in a manner similar to most probation departments in California, offering crisis intervention services only. There was no dedicated court to address youths with severe mental health issues, few if any placement options for crossover populations, and no cost-effective family-based community treatment service…
MultiSystemic Therapy is designed to provide communities with affordable and effective treatment for serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders. The goal of MST is to reduce criminal activity, substance abuse, and antisocial behavior through integrative, cost-effective, in-home, family-based treatment. MST aims to empower parents with the skills and resources needed to independently address the difficulties that arise in raising teenagers, and to empower youths to cope with family, peer, school, and neighborhood problems. The program uses a family-centered and strength-based service delivery approach and focuses on preserving the family…
Within MST, 74% of families improved their network of social supports, and 68% of parents improved their parenting skills. Self-report data indicated marked improvements in family relations, educational/vocational situation, and association with pro-social peers following program entry.
MST youths showed considerable improvement in school performance in the term following program entry, as compared with the preceding term. Attendance improved from less than half-time to more than two-thirds, suspensions dropped from more than 37% of MST youths to fewer than 15%, and not a single MST youth was expelled in the term following program entry…
Family life affects delinquency. Youths have a greater chance of success if risk factors in the family domain are reduced or eliminated. Most of the families receiving probation services reside in neighborhoods with high levels of crime and gang activity. Therefore, services to these families must focus on multiple domains and systems in which these families are nested and provide support for strong parental intervention strategies. Moreover, strengthening the families of high- risk offenders is critical to the treatment and supervision strategy of high-risk high-need probationers. In the months ahead, JJCPA programmatic efforts and strategies will target intervention services at the family. These services will focus on: reducing isolation, promoting parent involvement in school success, and increasing the capacity of families to use the systemic strengths in their neighborhoods as levers for change and support.
In its report entitled Mental Health Treatment for Youth in the Juvenile Justice System, the National Mental Health Association recognized two Texas initiatives that “incorporate promising practices to address the mental health, substance abuse and co-occurring needs of youth involved in the juvenile justice system.” Both programs address the needs of the family, rather than just the individual.
The Texas First Time Offender program, available in 43 of the 254 counties in the state, provides services that range from screening and assessment, substance abuse counseling, case management and connecting the family to community support systems. This program works to keep young people from criminal behavior by addressing their mental health needs and by working to increase the stability of the family.
Family-focused interventions have shown positive impacts on child and family functioning, delinquent behavior and recidivism. As one parent points out, “Families socialize children… Parents teach children their ways to control their behavior and respect others rights.” Effective juvenile justice programs work to strengthen the capacity of family members to live and work together and to care for children at home.
Families should be involved in developing treatment plans, individualized education plans and aftercare plans for their children. Families should also be provided with regular progress reports on all medical, mental health and educational services their children receive. Research suggests that a lack of family connectedness is associated with juvenile criminal activity.
Maintaining family ties while incarcerated, and preparing for and establishing positive family situations upon release, correlate with juveniles’ successful reunification and reduced recidivism.
Active family participation in the design and implementation of the treatment plan is the first step to the incorporation of family involvement within the child serving system. Service providers must ensure that family members have a voice in, access to and ownership of the plans of care designed to address their children’s mental health treatment needs. This includes holding meetings during dates and times accessible to families and including their interests and concerns when setting outcome and treatment goals. Promoting and supporting family organizations that provide peer support and advocacy is another important way to ensure that families are actively involved.
- “Clinton, Santorum trade barbs on village and family,” Centre Daily Times