National Girls' Caucus

The current state of gender-specific delinquency programming

“…The search led to many existing literature reviews, most of which reported on a very small number of programs (Blake, Amaro, Schwartz, & Flinchbaugh, 2001;Ravoira, 1999). Others reviewed many programs but were either published many years ago or provide little in the way of proven program effects (Greene, Peters, & Associates, 1998;Schaffner, 2006).…”

Looking in the Rearview Mirror: What Incarcerated Women Think Girls Need From The System

“…The biggest risk factors for girls are related to family issues (Bloom et al, 2002b). Researchers have noted that in addition to experiencing sexual and physical abuse; witnessing domestic violence, familial criminality and substance abuse, parental incarceration, parental absence; dealing with conflicts with parents, familial communication problems; and losing a family member to violence all contribute to girls' delinquency (Acoca, 1999;American Bar Association & National Bar Association, 2001;Bloom et al, 2002b;Bloom, Owen, Rosenbaum, & Deschenes, 2003;DeHart, 2008;Greene, Peters, & Associates, 1998;Holsinger, 2000;Holsinger & Holsinger, 2005;Kakar et al, 2002;Ravoira, 1999;Reihman, Bluthenthal, Juvonen, & Morral, 2003;Schaffner, 2007).…”

Military-Style Residential Treatment for Disruptive Adolescents: Effective for Some Girls, All Girls, When, and Why?

“…Ransom et al (1996) suggested that authoritarian tactics can lead to feelings of self-and social alienation, as girls are required to adopt behaviors and values that are not their own. Instead, many contemporary theorists argue for gender-responsive programming for girls, aimed at developing social skills, improving communication with family and involvement in community, relying on positive reinforcement rather than punishment to alter behavior, validating emotions, and encouraging frequent interactions with female staff (Acoca, 1999;Bloom et al, 2003;Burke, 2004;Daniel, 1999;Evans, 2004;Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, 1999;Morash et al, 1998;Ravoira, 1999) Despite a decade of concerns about the appropriateness and effectiveness of boot camp interventions for young women and girls, little quantitative, behavioral research has been conducted. The primary purpose of this study is to provide empirical data regarding the presenting problems, completion rates, and behavioral outcomes of girls who participate in military-style residential treatment.…”

“…Ransom et al (1996) suggested that authoritarian tactics can lead to feelings of self- and social alienation, as girls are required to adopt behaviors and values that are not their own. Instead, many contemporary theorists argue for gender-responsive programming for girls, aimed at developing social skills, improving communication with family and involvement in community, relying on positive reinforcement rather than punishment to alter behavior, validating emotions, and encouraging frequent interactions with female staff (Acoca, 1999; Bloom et al, 2003; Burke, 2004; Daniel, 1999; Evans, 2004; Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, 1999; Morash et al, 1998; Ravoira, 1999)…”