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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this article by Tolmach was to discuss the City Lights day treatment program for black, inner city, troubled, emotionally disturbed, and high-risk teenagers.
METHODOLOGY:
This non-experimental study was based on a literature review, anecdotal evidence, and personal information about the program from the author, who is also a social worker (ACSW) at City Lights in Washington, DC. The research addressed treatment for troubled youths in general, and the City Lights Program, in particular.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The study reported that the City Lights Program for troubled adolescents aged 12 to 22 is a 3-year old nonprofit community-based service program aimed to serve 30 delinquent and emotionally disturbed adolescents and to discourage the institutionalization of adolescents. The article stated that most of the students at City Lights have already been through four out-of-home placements (jail, mental hospital, foster care, residential treatment) and that these students have a variety of labels including antisocial personality, borderline personality, and depression. It was shown that the approach in the school is comprehensive, supportive, and multidisciplinary. The author argued that the school, with the belief that academic competence can change behavior, is committed to innovative teaching (such as self-paced computer instruction) and evaluation to motivate and reward students. It was explained that the therapeutic milieu is prevalent throughout all aspects of the program, and therapy meetings are available to students at any time. In addition, the study found that City Lights uses creative strategies, such as forming choirs, going ice skating, arranging paid employment as a reward, and offering community connections, to encourage the students, form positive self-images, and maintain high attendance. Finally, the author noted that the program, while still very young, has had success in many areas. For example, the study found that the attendance rate is 90%, academic skills have improved (reading and math levels increased an average of 1.5 grade levels), home situations have stabilized, and the number of youths returning to institutions was very low.
AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS:
The author recommended further research to assess the program. She noted that an evaluation program is being developed that will measure long- and short-term outcomes in terms of vocational history, quality of life, ability to withstand crises, and institutionalization. The study stated that the objective evaluation will not be done for several years.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
District of Columbia
At Risk Youth
At Risk African American
At Risk Juvenile
Community Based
Emotionally Disturbed Juvenile
Educational Factors
Educational Instruction
African American Offender
African American Juvenile
African American Crime
Juvenile Offender
Juvenile Crime
Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile Treatment
Urban Youth
Treatment Program
Program Description
Delinquency Treatment
Crime Treatment
Offender Treatment
Program Effectiveness
03-05 |