The importance and effectiveness of family interventions is not only shown in the treatment for childhood and adolescence depression, but also in other issues experienced by children and adolescents. As an illustration, in a study conducted by Sexton and Turner (2011), experimenters examined the effectiveness of family therapy as compared to probation services for adolescents with behavioral problems. Participants were 79% male and 21% female, evenly distributed from 13 to 17 years, and they were juvenile offenders who had been sentenced to probation services, and they were eligible because their situation showed behavioral problems. The study was managed by randomly assigning participants to receive either family therapy or regular probation …show more content…
It involves good sense of communication, trust and support. In a study conducted by Crane et al., 2005, the associations between family functioning, acculturation between parents and their adolescents, and adolescent adjustment problems were investigated. Participants were 41 secondary school students between 12 to 19 years old of Chinese descent and their parents. They were attending classes in the United States and Canada where they received instruction in the Chinese language. The study consisted of the completion of different questionnaires that measure cognitive, affective, and behavioral symptoms of depression with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptoms. Three booklets were distributed, one for the teenager and one for each of his or her parents. Adolescents completed the questionnaires in their classes, and their parents were asked to complete the questionnaires at home. It is important to mention that only 30% of the parents completed the questionnaire because that was a very low percentage and results may be affected. After questionnaires were returned in prepaid envelopes, results demonstrated that poor family functioning and large differences between parents' and adolescents' acculturation are positively related to adolescent depression and delinquency. By all means, supportive families play a very important role in children and
Quinn, W. H., & van Dyke, D. J. (2004). A multiple family group intervention for first-time juvenile
Hinton, W., Sheperis, C., & Sims, P. (2000). Family based approaches to juvenile delinquency. The Family Journal, 11(2), 167-173.
Handling a young fragile mind can be difficult; but studies have shown therapeutic rehabilitation is key in not causing unrepairable damage. The majority of youth offenders has been exposed to harsh environments and rough upbringings. Years of exposure to violence and neglect can create a sort of brain-washing. It is imperative to focus on important aspects of life in order to transform the mind of the juveniles. An efficient method that involves keeping the juvenile in the community is referred to as multisystemic therapy. “Multisystemic therapy is an intensive therapy program which focuses on numerous aspects the delinquent’s life: family, school, social and other unique factors which may relate to the behavior” (May, Osmond, and Billick 298). When using the multisystemic approach juveniles decrease association with other delinquents, juvenile and adult. The therapeutic method gives an individual approach on focusing deeper on the root issues and helps the juvenile renew their minds and thought process. In the end, adopting multisystemic therapy decreases the likelihood of the youth continuing in a criminal
...is a negative effect in the American orientation on adolescents. The also examined the indicators for adolescent adjustment, depression, and academic performance by looking at their test scores. These measures provided the view to the acculturation discrepancy hypothesis. The findings also supported that examining is needed specifically in the family as it serves as a mechanism to the relationship for family acculturation discrepancy.
These researchers believe that intensive intervention approaches are needed for youth who display antisocial behaviors because such behaviors put them at even greater risk for abusing substances. They also state that when youth engage in antisocial behaviors, the parents tend to be less accepting of them, show less affection, support and attachment to them. The parents may also have harsher attitudes and discipline with such youth. In addition, according to Santisteban et al (1997), research has shown that parents of youth with antisocial behaviors often use reinforcement inappropriately, use inconsistent parenting styles, and have a lot of family conflict and poor attachment to their children. Family therapy and intervention can be useful in helping parents to become a protective factor to help youth deal with stressors they are facing and to prevent their abuse of substances. However, if families do not receive interventions or help, youth with antisocial behaviors are more likely to be influenced by antisocial peers, drug use, and criminal activity in their neighborhoods. Also, if the parents force their problematic youth out of the home too soon, then they will be more easily influenced by
Mental health treatment among juvenile is a subject that has been ignored by society for far too long. It has always been one of those intricate issues that lead to the argument of whether juveniles should receive proper treatment or imprisoned like any other criminals, and often trialed as adults. Many times, young people are often deprived of proper help (Rosenberg) However, we often overlook the fact that while they are criminals, they are still young, and fact or not, it is a matter of compassion that must be played from our side to help these youth overcome their harsh reality. As such, we do however see signs of sympathy shown towards juvenile. Juvenile health courts give help to youth to youth who have serious mental illness (Rosenberg). It is often asked in general, would mental health treatment cure juvenile criminals? In my opinion, when you look at the background of these young criminals, it is frequently initiated from negligence and feelings of betrayal (Browne and Lynch), of course leading to mental disorder. However, further zooming into their background, it is always proper treatment that saves them from their unfortunate circumstances. Research shows that giving juvenile criminals mental health treatment did not only reduce re-arrests but also further improve their ways of living among the society.
Easterling and Johnson. (2012). Understanding Unique Effects of Parental Incarceration on Children: Challenges, Progress, and Recommendations. Journal of Marriage and Family, 342-356.
The juvenile justice system faces a significant challenge in identifying and responding to the psychiatric disorders of detained youth because research has shown that it is difficult to define the best means to use and enhance the scarce mental health resources (Kessler & Kraus, 2007). According to Cocozza and Skowyra (2000) “Children’s and adolescents’ mental health needs have historically been addressed inadequately in policy, practice, and research and have only the number of youth with mental illness and their level of unmet needs recognized” (p 4). Furthermore, that the juvenile justice system has gone from treatment and rehabilitation to retribution and punishment, that the prevalence is higher for youths who are involved with the system have mental health disorders when compared to the general population. In this paper I will be discussing pathways of juvenile detentions, types of mentally ill juvenile offenders, working alliance, treatment/intervention options available, challenges of untreated mental illness, and research findings.
Yet still only 34 states have accepted this method into practice. In 2011 1.5 million arrests were made of people under 18 in the United States alone. Juvenile recidivism rates are ___. Clearly this should be of concern to everybody as juvenile delinquents often transition into adult offenders if some kind of intervention does not take place.By avoiding going to a juvenile detention facility or to prison, these youths avoid the label of being a criminal. Multisystemic Therapy has helped numerous families which will not only affect the young offender but also their entire family. The life lessons learned in this experience will help the parents be better parents to the child 's siblings as well and the child will be able to carry on these new values to their own children when they start their own families. Breaking the cycle of deviance in families is an important step in reducing all
Hinton, W., Sheperis, C., & Sims, P. (2000). Family based approaches to juvenile delinquency. The Family Journal, 11(2), 167-173.
Youths who have entered the justice system have often been diagnosed with mental disorders or diseases. “A majority of adolescents formally involved in juvenile court have at least one, if not more than one, significant emotional or learning impairment, or maltreatment experience” (Mallet, 2013). The existence of these diseases often effect the juvenile’s stability and ability to make rational decisions. Which may result in them engaging in criminal activities The prevalence of disruptive behavior disorders among youths in juvenile justice systems is reported to be between 30 percent and 50 percent (The mental health needs of juvenile offenders). The difficulties of these disorders are often
... recidivism, and whether specific treatment and implementation strategies are more effective than others with youth transitioning from residential confinement back to their families and communities. Research has not shown that having a family-focused support program to be effective in some situations (Journal of Juvenile Justice, 2012).
A large burden is placed on families when youth are incarcerated. There is not only the pain of being separated, but it also prevents families from being involved in the juvenile’s life, which is a barrier to the child’s recovery, future, and
In this article, Adalist-Estrin discusses the effects that parental incarceration on the adolescent population. Of the many different effects and contributing factors parental imprisonment can have on children, she targets a very prominent three that result in a lack of support and understanding of the presenting issue. The author further discusses and lists the various ways many of these adolescents may experience parental incarceration, including the feelings associated with this trauma. The article sheds light on the challenges faced with providing support as well as why it is crucial to create supportive environments for these children. Importantly, Adalist-Estrin goes on to explain the importance of the roles educators, counselors, and community advocates play as supporters. Suggestions and strategies are offered for responding to and working with this population of children, including that of a support group.
Lee, Peter. 2000. The. " The conception of depression in Chinese American college students. " Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology 6: 183-195.