Journal of Evidence-based Social Work

In this qualitative study the authors examine factors associated with the successful implementation and plans for continued use of an evidence-informed intervention, the 4Rs and 2Ss Program for Strengthening Families, in a sample of 29 New York State, Office of Mental Health licensed child mental health clinics. A learning collaborative (LC) approach was used as a vehicle for supporting training and implementation of the program. The PRISM theoretical framework ( Feldstein & Glasgow, 2008 ) was used to guide the data analysis...

Planned organizational change processes can be used to address the many challenges facing human service organizations (HSOs) and improve organizational outcomes. There is massive literature on organizational change, ranging from popular management books to academic research on specific aspects of change. Regarding HSOs, there is a growing literature, including increasing attention to implementation science and evidence-based practices. However, research which offers generalizable, evidence-based guidelines for implementing change is not common...

System of care (SOC) models in North America were developed in response to the needs of children with a severe emotional disturbance. Such children experience problems across life spheres including issues at home that put them at risk of abuse and neglect, difficulties at school including special education classification and dropping-out, and involvement with the juvenile courts. SOC evaluations and research suggests that an overreliance of evaluative research efforts on standardized scales and preconceived measurable outcomes have resulted in a loss of other important data...

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the Girls' Health Screen as a screening instrument compared to a standard history and physical examination among females entering juvenile detention. Chi-square analyses were performed to evaluate the association between the results of the self-administered screen and the history and physical examination performed by a provider. The screen was administered to 119 females. A number of acute issues were elicited that were also statistically correlated with the history and physical exam making it a valid screen for urgent issues at the time of detention...

Within the ranks of the homeless are individuals coping with substance addiction and/or chronic physical or mental disability. Their special needs often pose significant barriers to successfully re-integrate into society. For these individuals, simply securing a roof overhead may not be an adequate solution. Supportive housing combines housing with access to on-site social services to assist persons coping with disabling physical and behavioral health conditions. This study examined whether an association could be found between length of residency in supportive housing and subjective well-being...

Do many hands make lighter work for siblings caring for aging parents? Anchored in theoretical concepts of filial responsibility and equity, this article is an in-depth examination of tensions between caregiving siblings in two families. This article contributes understandings about ways siblings may differ in their views of parent care and how resentments arising from these differences incline siblings to seek support by aligning with one or more other siblings. The purpose of this examination is to illuminate complex sibling relationships that can impact parent care, and to provoke reflection on social work practices for navigating difficult sibling relationships and promoting high quality care for aging parents...

Adolescents with substance use disorders are at high risk for contracting Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Adolescence is the period of sexual maturation that compounds the issues associated with infection transmission for this risk-taking group. Integrated treatment models for implementing HIV education, counseling, and testing is a promising approach. This study describes four substance abuse treatment programs of varying levels of care that integrated HIV services for adolescents...

The prevalence of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa is the highest in the world. Young people, including university students, are at risk. Many sexually active young people have multiple partners, but little is known about how university students who have multiple partners differ from those who do not. This study examined such differences among randomly selected first-year students at a university in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, who completed a confidential questionnaire via audio computer-assisted self-interviewing...

The use of data and evidence to inform practice in child welfare is the subject of increased discussion in the literature as well as in agencies striving to achieve child safety, permanency, and well-being. Survey data was collected from workers and supervisors in private agencies providing out-of-home care case management and residential treatment services to children and youth across three states. Hierarchical linear modeling tested the role of goal-oriented teamwork and supervisory practice involving the use of data to assess practice effectiveness in predicting evidence-informed practice...

This study uses systematic review methods to investigate the use of mentoring programs to assist young people in successfully transitioning back into their communities following a juvenile correctional placement. Few studies were found that used comparison or control groups and measured recidivism outcomes. The results of the studies were mixed, with one study finding no differences between groups, and the other two studies finding some recidivism reductions among youth who received the intervention. However, the absence of detailed information on the interventions, weak research designs, and the diversity of the mentoring programs contributed to an overall dearth of knowledge about the effectiveness of these interventions in reducing recidivism...

This article examines the consequences of legislative changes that eased the process of treating juveniles as adults. Overall, it finds evidence that there has been an increase in the number of juveniles sent to the criminal court and the majority either remain in the community or return to the community shortly after serving a jail or prison sentence. In light of geographic and racial/ethnic disparities in transfer, differences in the programs and services offered to youth in the juvenile and criminal justice systems, and higher rates of recidivism among transferred offenders, the article supports the contention of many scholars and advocates that there is a need for policy and practice reform...

An estimated 1.8 million juveniles were arrested in the United States for delinquency in 2009. Previous studies indicate high rates of exposure to traumatic events and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms for these youths. This study examined PTS in a sample of 170 youths in juvenile detention. The results of this study reveal higher rates of PTS symptoms (21%) compared to national rates (6%). The data also suggest youths suffering from more PTS symptoms also report higher depression, anxiety, anger, family relationship worries, thought problems, and attention problems...

Over the past two decades, gang membership within the United States has continued to rise and has spread from urban centers to suburban and rural areas. Juvenile gang membership is of particular concern because of the relationship between early gang involvement and later adolescent and adult criminal behavior and incarceration. Female gang membership and affiliation are receiving increased attention as female crime and incarceration rates outpace those of their male counterparts. This study explores gender differences between male and female juveniles who have verified gang membership in one suburban jurisdiction...

Sexual crimes committed by youths are a major social concern. Currently, adult-based models of service delivery are applied to juveniles with very little evidence to support treatment effectiveness. With prevailing limitations to these approaches, consideration of methods for improving services to youths is warranted. Adapting traditional treatment approaches to incorporate family-oriented models of service delivery is likely to improve youth and family outcomes. The goal of this article is twofold: (1) to review the state of the evidence of current treatments for sexually abusive youths, identifying gaps in services and research, and (2) to suggest service improvements by incorporating family treatment approaches and reviewing the extant evidence for existing family-oriented models...

This study reviews and assesses published psychopharmaceutical randomized controlled trials targeting youths with the singular diagnosis of conduct disorder. Computerized database searches were completed to identify all randomized controlled trials. Fifteen studies were located and reviewed. Of the 15 studies, none were longer than 10 weeks in length, and none had more than 100 participants. The majority were conducted in inpatient hospital settings, with all-male participants. Methodological quality reporting of trials was poor and inconsistent...

Annually, 100,000 delinquent youths return to their communities from a detention facility and are required to attend a community school. School social workers may be best positioned to provide assistance with this transition; however, little is understood about how they are presently servicing this population. This study explores the interactions of school social workers and the advocacy and assistance they provide on behalf of juvenile justice youths. The author surveyed a national sample of current school social workers (n = 4,279) and reports on their involvement with juvenile justice, their work on behalf of the youths' families as well as their interagency collaborations...

This article serves as a review of the mentoring literature. Specifically, it seeks to review discussions on the issues, particularly the difficulties of defining the term mentor. Next there is an examination of any empirical evidence of possible benefits resulting from mentoring relationships. Lastly, the article explores the mentoring relationship in an effort to determine which, if any, specific characteristics may impact any positive outcomes.

A recidivism risk instrument was developed and validated on a sample of juvenile offenders (N = 1,987) based on the need to classify juveniles by their likelihood of re-offense. Female recidivism (R(2) = 27%) was predicted by younger age at first expulsion from school, history of parent incarceration, gang involvement, felony class offense, and firearm use. Male recidivism (R(2) = 12%) was predicted by younger age at first adjudication, referrals, school suspensions, history of maternal incarceration, firearm use, running away, gang involvement, and destroying property/stealing...

The advent of evidence-based practice (EBP) has significantly changed the juvenile justice system while producing intense controversy. The intent of this article is to provide an update on the current status of EBP in the juvenile justice system. Specifically, this article will describe the evolution of juvenile justice philosophy as it has informed current juvenile justice policies and programs, discuss the scope of current juvenile justice research regarding EBP, identify barriers to implementing EBP, expound on the development of EBP in juvenile justice, discern the characteristics of evidence-based interventions in the juvenile justice system, and finally describe how to select and assess evidence-based practices and interventions...

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