Describes two recent studies sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse which focused on the cost-effectiveness of prevention. Results showed that the alternatives program (Channel One) produced increased drug use at one site, while the affective education program reduced drug use and was judged cost-effective. (JAC)

Examined the utility of the survey-feedback method of environmental assessment in a community-based adolescent treatment program. Staff (N=29) and clients (N=52) at two facilities of the agency were surveyed. Anticipated differences were found in perceived levels of administrative order and control. The technique proved useful to staff members.…

Juvenile crime and its immediate and long-term economic and human costs have become a national concern. Programs to prevent and reduce delinquency have developed across the country and one such program in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (which includes Pittsburgh) is described in this bulletin. The Allegheny program exemplifies a large-scale,…

Thousands of children run away from home or placements each year. The many programs for these children require evaluation to determine effectiveness; one runaway program for at-risk children is examined here. It was felt that if the runaway youth could receive some counseling, then it might help these children and families to solve some of their…

The breakdown in parent/adolescent relationships, along with the increase in disruptive behaviors by adolescents, has become a major concern of parents and practitioners. The goal of this practicum is to review the literature on parent/adolescent conflicts and offer a conflict resolution program intended to enhance the coping skills of parents.…

The efforts of the Colorado Division of Youth Services to develop a program that would reduce the inappropriate use of secure detention of juveniles by providing intake/screening units and various nonsecure alternative detention services are described. Program goals are discussed and criteria on which detention decisions were based for the…

This paper describes the evaluative research of the Palm Beach County, Florida School Districts Youth Court Trial Program. Youth or teen courts have been implemented as an alternative measure to juvenile courts for handling adolescents who committed delinquent acts, usually for the first time. The purpose of the applied research was to identify…

Describes one county's approach to juvenile justice education. The program's goal is to develop and maintain an efficient, effective education for troubled youth based on the concepts of dignity, respect, and self-esteem. Discusses the target population, program methods, staff requirements and training, obstacles, and success indicators. (RJM)

Describes group therapy approach used by team of school psychologists to treat delinquent behavior of adolescents (n=82). Notes cooperative arrangement with the juvenile court made it possible for adjudicated delinquent youth to be referred directly to after-school sessions. Results from one-year follow-up study found no further arrests for 59.8…

These hearings present a performance review of and information about the Federal administration of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, which assists 169 centers for runaways throughout the country. The centers provide emergency shelter and family mediation for many of the youngsters who run away or who are directed to leave home by their parents.…

The Maine Youth Center was established to rehabilitate juvenile offenders. The primary treatment philosophy at the Center is Reality Therapy, which stresses that individuals are responsible for their own behavior. To test the effectiveness of the therapy, major assessments of the youths were conducted at 6-month intervals in 1980 and 1981. The…

This report, prepared by the Delinquency and School Environments Program, describes further interim results of the program's national evaluation of the Alternative Education Program of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The report is directed primarily to project implementers and to the OJJDP and is organized in two…

The former HEW (Health, Education, and Welfare) National Strategy for Youth Development Model proposed a community-based program to promote positive youth development and to prevent delinquency through a sequence of youth needs assessments, needs-targeted programs, and program impact evaluation. HEW Community Program Impact Scales data obtained…

The Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program was developed to provide an education for students who were expelled from school or who were adjudicated to attend an alternative school. The program was operated by the Harris County Juvenile Board, but the Houston Independent School District contracted with the county to place expelled students…

Describes the development and pilot testing of a marihauna education program for grades 7-10. The five-lesson program included a health belief model and a legal deterrance model. Results of the pilot test showed the health program had the greatest impact. (JAC)