| Session Title: Findings and Lessons Learned From a Process and Impact Evaluation of a Gender-Specific Short Term Residential Program for Delinquent Girls |
| Multipaper Session 825 to be held in Wekiwa 10 on Saturday, Nov 14, 11:50 AM to 12:35 PM |
| Sponsored by the Crime and Justice TIG |
| Chair(s): |
| Katherine Williams, Development Services Group Inc, kwilliams@dsgonline.com |
| Abstract: Father Flanagan Boys Town operates a short-term residential treatment program providing assessment, crisis stabilization, and emergency care for female juvenile offenders. Funded by NIJ, Development Services Group, Inc. conducted a three-site process and outcome evaluation of programs in Newark, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, and Atlanta, GA. The long-term outcomes assessed after one year are recidivism, commitment to school, substance use, sexual activity, and family relationships Research questions include: What are the fidelity and adherence to the program model at each site? What are the frequency and duration of services implemented at each site? This session will explore the results of the impact and process evaluation, and the new methods that were developed to maintain contact with clients over time, and to track and locate clients for the follow-up survey. Despite being hampered by a variety of external challenges, the program's fidelity remained high and a successful evaluation was conducted. |
| Lessons Learned in Conducting a Longitudinal Evaluation and Tracking Participants in a Short Term Residential Program for Delinquent Girls |
| Marcia Cohen, Development Services Group Inc, mcohen@dsgonline.com |
| Stephen Gies, Development Services Group Inc, sgies@dsgonline.com |
| Katherine Williams, Development Services Group Inc, kwilliams@dsgonline.com |
| Father Flanagan Boys Town operates a short-term residential treatment program providing assessment, crisis stabilization, and emergency care for female juvenile offenders, ages 11-18. With funding from NIJ, Development Services Group, Inc. conducted a three-site process and outcome evaluation of programs in Newark, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, and Atlanta, GA. The outcomes assessed were changes in the number of treatment plan goals met, as well as the overall adjustment and behavior. The qualitative data addressed program implementation at the three sites. Research questions examined were: What are the fidelity and adherence to the program model at each site? What are the frequency and duration of services implemented at each site? What changes, if any, were necessary to the program model and/or services at each site? Interviews and focus groups were conducted with staff over time. Findings and evaluation lessons learned will be discussed. |
| An Outcome Evaluation of a Gender-Specific Short Term Residential Program for Delinquency Girls |
| Stephen Gies, Development Services Group Inc, sgies@dsgonline.com |
| Marcia Cohen, Development Services Group Inc, mcohen@dsgonline.com |
| Allina Boutillier, Development Services Group Inc, aboutilier@dsgonline.com |
| Boys Town was founded in 1917 in Omaha, NE by Father Flanagan to help troubled boys. In addition to the legendary residential program, Boys Town also offers a short term residential program providing assessment, crisis stabilization, and emergency care for juvenile female offenders. The goal of the program is to prevent the recurrence of problem behaviors. With funding from NIJ, Development Services Group, Inc. (DSG) is conducting a three-site evaluation of programs in Newark, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, and Atlanta, GA. The quasi-experimental design matches girls who are exposed to the GBT program with a comparison group of girls who received traditional probation services. The short-term outcomes assessed are changes in the number of treatment plan goals met, as well as the overall adjustment and behavior. The long-term outcomes assessed after one year are recidivism, commitment to school, attitude toward employment, substance use, sexual activity, and family relationships. The analysis uses HLM techniques and survival analysis to assess the effectiveness of the program. Final findings will be discussed. |