Intervention outcomes for girls referred from juvenile justice: Effects on delinquency.

Abstract

An increasing number of girls are entering the juvenile justice system. However, intervention programs for delinquent girls have not been examined empirically. We examined the 12-month outcomes of a randomized intervention trial for girls with chronic delinquency (N = 81). Girls were randomly assigned into an experimental condition (Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care [MTFC]) or a control condition (group care [GC]). ANCOVAs indicated that MTFC youth had a significantly greater reduction in the number of days spent in locked settings and in caregiver-reported delinquency, and had 42% fewer criminal referrals than GC youth (a trend) at the 12-month followup. Implications for reducing girls' chronic delinquency are discussed. Keywordsgirl; delinquency; intervention; arrest; foster careIntervention Outcomes for Girls Referred from Juvenile Justice: Effects on Delinquency Girls under the age of 18 are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. juvenile justice population; their delinquency rates increased by 83% between 1988and 1997 (American Bar Association and National Bar Association, 2001). Converging sources confirm that juvenile justice systems across the U.S. are faced with a rapidly growing population of serious female delinquents (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 1999). Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have shown cascading negative outcomes for girls who engage in serious antisocial behavior, which set girls up for later poverty, use of publicly funded services, incarceration, and involvement in domestic violence (Leve & Chamberlain, 2004;Serbin et al., 2004). However, many community service providers have little experience treating delinquent girls. Furthermore, studies show that such girls tend not to make use of mental health, social service, or educational delivery systems as often as males with similar problems (Offord, Boyle, & Racine, 1991). Thus, the need for effective prevention and treatment approaches for girls in the juvenile justice system is clear.Prior studies with males have shown that interventions designed to address multiple risk factors have shown positive outcomes (Chamberlain & Reid, 1998;Henggeler, Schoenwald, Rowland, & Cunningham, 2002). In addition, recent theoretical models and empirical advances have highlighted potential gender-related interpersonal dynamics (e.g., social or relational aggression) that inform relevant interventions for female adolescent offenders (Underwood, 2003). Based on this theoretical and intervention research base, we examined the efficacy of MTFC was originally developed to provide a community-based alternative to incarceration for boys with serious and chronic delinquency. A randomized trial testing the efficacy of MTFC for boys found significantly lower rates of official and self-reported delinquency in MTFC boys than boys in the control condition (group care [GC]) in a 1-year follow-up and lower rates of violent offending in a 2-year follow-up (Chamberlain & Reid, 1998;Eddy, Whaley & Chamberlain, 2004). The curr...

Comparing outcomes for youth in treatment foster care and family-style group care

“…Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) In studies comparing youth randomized into either MTFC or diverse group care programs, Chamberlain and colleagues found that MTFC youth spent less time in locked settings, had fewer criminal referrals (Chamberlain, & Reid, 1998;Leve, Chamberlain & Reid, 2005) and had fewer delinquent peers at follow-up . Males in MTFC were more likely to complete treatment and return home to family compared to males in group care (Chamberlain & Reid, 1998).…”

Prevention of Behavior Problems for Children in Foster Care: Outcomes and Mediation Effects

“…They and other researchers (e.g., Courtney, 2000) have called for experimental research to improve practices in the child welfare system (CWS), particularly for children in out-of-home care. In this study, we tested Correspondence should be directed to Patricia Chamberlain, Oregon Social Learning Center, 10 Shelton McMurphey Boulevard, Eugene, (541) 485-2711; fax, (541) NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript the effectiveness of an intervention designed to strengthen foster parents' parenting skills through the implementation of a theoretically-based intervention that had been shown in previous randomized studies to have positive short-and long-term effects on child outcomes Chamberlain & Reid, 1991;Leve et al, 2005). The intervention was expected to lead to improvements in foster parent child management skills, which were expected to result in fewer child behavior problems.…”

“…Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) has been used with foster care providers to provide treatment to adolescents referred by juvenile justice as an alternative to placement in group or residential care (Chamberlain, & Reid, 1998;Leve et al, 2005). MTFC has been adapted for use with children with severe mental health disorders who are being discharged from inpatient psychiatric care (Chamberlain & Reid 1991) and with high-risk preschoolers in foster care (Fisher et al, 2005).…”

“…the effectiveness of an intervention designed to strengthen foster parents' parenting skills through the implementation of a theoretically-based intervention that had been shown in previous randomized studies to have positive short-and long-term effects on child outcomes Chamberlain & Reid, 1991;Leve et al, 2005). The intervention was expected to lead to improvements in foster parent child management skills, which were expected to result in fewer child behavior problems.…”

“…Risk factors included the use of harsh or overly lax discipline, inadvertent reinforcement of coercive behaviors, and lack of involvement (Patterson, 1982). Improvement in parenting practices has been shown to decrease child behavior problems (Eddy et al, 2005;Patterson et al, 2004), yet these interventions have not been evaluated in the CWS.Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) has been used with foster care providers to provide treatment to adolescents referred by juvenile justice as an alternative to placement in group or residential care (Chamberlain, & Reid, 1998;Leve et al, 2005). MTFC has been adapted for use with children with severe mental health disorders who are being discharged from inpatient psychiatric care (Chamberlain & Reid 1991) and with high-risk preschoolers in foster care (Fisher et al, 2005).…”