Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.
Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 9:19 pm
Time: 9:19 pm
Results for social services
16 results foundAuthor: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice Title: Reducing Reoffending: Supporting Families, Creating Better Futures. A Framework for Improving the Local Delivery of Support for Families of Offenders Summary: This framework sets out key tasks for criminal justice agencies and local services to support the children and families of offenders at each stage of the criminal justice system and beyond. Details: London: Home Office, 2009. 45p. Source: Great Britain. Department for Children, Schools and Families Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 117794 Keywords: Families of InmatesSocial Services |
Author: Anderson, Sarah Title: The Social Care Needs of Short-Sentence Prisoners Summary: In late 2010 Revolving Doors was commissioned by the North East Public Health Observatory, on behalf of the Directorate of Social Care in the North East, to undertake a literature review into the social care needs of prisoners sentenced to less than twelve months in prison. Short-sentence prisoners are the archetypal ‘revolving doors’ group. Our previous research and recent development work in HMP Lewes, HMP Styal and HMP Everthorpe have highlighted their multiple needs. The exceptionally high rate of reoffending among this group is a particular concern of the current coalition Government. The current climate of dramatic reductions in public spending is likely to have a widespread impact on the ability of services to meet these needs. Nevertheless, we have significant reasons to be optimistic, not least the renewed Government focus on rehabilitation. This group is particularly in the spotlight, with ‘payment by results’ approaches forming a key component of the proposals to reduce reoffending among this group. The early findings from our Financial Analysis Model highlight the huge expense to the public purse that this group generates and the potential for real savings to be made through offering better targeted support. Details: London: Revolving Doors Agency, 2011. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 18, 2011 at: http://www.revolving-doors.org.uk/documents/the-social-care-needs-of-short-sentence-prisoners/ Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.revolving-doors.org.uk/documents/the-social-care-needs-of-short-sentence-prisoners/ Shelf Number: 121749 Keywords: RecidivismReentry (U.K.)Social Services |
Author: Kenrick, James Title: The Outcomes and Impact of youth Advice: The Evidence. Key Research Evidence on the Difference Made to Young People's Lives by Social Welfare Advice Services Summary: This report is intended as a one-stop evidence resource for anyone wishing to understand the adverse impact of social welfare problems and the beneficial impact of youth advice services on young people‟s lives. It is hoped that it will be used by: providers developing advice services for young people to inform their models of delivery and to refer to the most relevant evidence in their applications for funding; policy-makers in the legal and youth sectors to inform their policies, priorities and strategies; funders to ensure they focus their limited funding on projects that have been designed on the basis of the evidence available; researchers with an interest in the subject to inform further research. The report may be particularly relevant in the current context of widespread local authority cuts to youth advice services and Government plans to reduce the scope and funding of civil legal aid. This report focuses on the outcomes and impact of advice provided: to young people between the ages of 13 and 25 (although with a greater focus on 16-25 year olds); by advice agencies targeting young people; primarily youth information, advice, counselling and support services (YIACS), but also Citizens Advice Bureaux, Law Centres and other independent advice agencies providing advice services to young people; in relation to social welfare rights-based issues, such as housing, homelessness, welfare benefits, debt, employment rights, education rights, social services and discrimination. Details: London: Youth Access, 2011. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2012 at: http://youthaccess.org.uk/uploads/documents/TheOutcomesAndImpactOfYouthAdvice-The-Evidence_FINAL_1.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://youthaccess.org.uk/uploads/documents/TheOutcomesAndImpactOfYouthAdvice-The-Evidence_FINAL_1.pdf Shelf Number: 126218 Keywords: At-Risk Youth (U.K.)Delinquency PreventionSocial Services |
Author: Liberman, Akiva Title: Interim Evaluation of the Pilot Program of the Truancy Case Management Partnership Intervention in the District of Columbia Summary: The Case Management Partnership Initiative (CMPI) addresses chronic truancy by linking truant ninth graders and their families to social services and case management, along with regular interagency case management meetings. A pilot was conducted at Anacostia and Ballou High Schools in 2011-2012. The implementation evaluation found that the pilot program successfully implemented an interagency partnership and linked families to needed services, which likely improved family well-being. Whether this impacted truancy is not yet known. To reduce chronic truancy, the CMPI is a promising platform for additional program experimentation, including possible modifications to timing, eligibility criteria, and program components. Details: Washington, DC: District of Columbia Crime Policy Institute, Urban Institute, 2012. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 5, 2012 at http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412619-Truancy-Case-Management-Partnership-Intervention.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412619-Truancy-Case-Management-Partnership-Intervention.pdf Shelf Number: 126275 Keywords: At-risk YouthDelinquency PreventionFamiliesSocial ServicesTruancy (Washington, DC) |
Author: Burman, Michele Title: Time for Change: An Evaluation of an Intensive Support Service for Young Women at High Risk of Secure Care or Custody Summary: The Time for Change Young Women’s Project (TfC) provides dedicated and gender-specific services for vulnerable girls and young women aged 15 to 17 years at referral (18 only if exceptionally vulnerable on account of care listing) who are at high risk of secure care or custody, and for whom other mainstream options have proved unsuitable. TfC was set up to include those who were chaotic and extremely vulnerable in transition from secure accommodation and prison and in response to concerns regarding the very limited service provision for girls and young women who either offend or are at risk of offending in Scotland, and against a backdrop of an increasing female prison population (McIvor and Burman 2011). Scottish Government turned down the initial bid but changed their view after the SOPHIE report on Secure Accommodation and the number of 15-17 year olds in prison. In reality, by the time TfC started there were no 15 year olds and most girls were 17 years of age. A key change to Scottish youth justice policy and practice which also serves as important background context for TfC has been the implementation of the ‘whole system approach’ to dealing with under 18 year olds who offend. This is founded on the principles of early intervention and is designed to seek opportunities to engage young people more productively in education, skills and positive activity, by putting in place a more streamlined and consistent response that works across all systems and agencies to achieve better outcomes (Scottish Government 2011). The principles of early, and effective intervention that is timely, supportive and appropriate, and the linking of risk taking behaviour to the expression of unmet need, together with the aim of the prevention of custody and secure accommodation, were encapsulated in the development of TfC. The key aims of TfC are to: provide dedicated intensive, relationship-based, support of young women and girls in order to minimise the escalation their offending and /or involvement with the youth and adult criminal justice systems; to assist them resolve current or past conflicts or trauma, familial difficulties and emotional issues associated with their offending behaviours, and to: enhance their positive social relationships, interests and access to suitable education, in line with research findings on resilience and desistance and with an asset-focused, strengths-based approaches to practice. The TfC service is delivered on an outreach basis and includes elements of practical support, partnership, one to one focused work and an on-call help-line. TfC also has access to facilities for residential placements, through the Up-2-Us parent organisation resource team which provides respite to vulnerable young people in times of crisis. TfC key workers respond to all calls for service provision, with managerial support, via a duty on-call system. TfC also offers consultation and advice to other agencies. The evaluation of TfC was conducted by researchers from the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research (SCCJR) between 2009 and 2011. The evaluation utilised a mixed method approach, and included data from semi-structured interviews with: TfC key workers and manager, criminal justice social workers, children’s and families social workers, and other stakeholders, and with young women service users. It also included analysis of case file information and the TfC data-base which records information on referral source, reasons for referral, key presenting issues (e.g. health, addiction), familial circumstances, legal status, history of anti-social or offending behaviour, and current accommodation, as well as any history of statutory involvement. The evaluation sought the views and experiences of TfC staff, stakeholders and service users, in order to: · gain understanding of the complexities of the client group, both in regard to levels of need and risk, and the practice challenges encountered by TfC; · obtain feedback from service users and stakeholders on key elements of the TfC service and its collaboration with other agencies, including the model of service delivery and principal practice approaches; · examine the impact of TfC on the young women using the service, and; · ascertain how the work of TfC and its model of service delivery could be improved. Details: Glasgow: Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research, 2012. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Reprot No. 02/2012: Accessed September 18, 2012 at: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/documents/FINAL%20Time%20for%20Change%20Report%2003%2004%202012%20kh.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/documents/FINAL%20Time%20for%20Change%20Report%2003%2004%202012%20kh.pdf Shelf Number: 126367 Keywords: At-Risk Youth (Scotland)Delinquency PreventionFemale OffendersJuvenile Justice PolicyRehabilitationSocial ServicesYoung Adult Offenders |
Author: Clinks Title: Going for Gold: Developing Effective Services for Young Adults Throughout the Criminal Justice Process Summary: This guide sets out how to develop services for young adults throughout the criminal justice process. It is based on a set of guiding principles and rules of engagement which can be applied flexibly within different local contexts. Demographics, offender profiles, types of crime, resources and available services will vary from place to place. But while the detail of how the service is delivered can change, the approach remains consistent: evidence-based, holistic, supportive and voluntary. Some young adults, for a variety of reasons, experience difficulties in making the transition from youth to adulthood. Most young adults have supportive families, positive experiences of education and good health to help them to successfully navigate the journey to independence. However, for those youngsters who have had troubled lives characterised by fragile or damaging relationships, unstable families, poor health, poverty or the experience of violence and abuse, the journey is difficult. Young adults may experience significant changes in the way that services are delivered once they reach the age of 18, because of the different ways that youth and adult services are delivered. They may experience a sudden loss of contact with workers with whom they have built up relationships and will have to engage differently with services. This can be tricky but there is a way of minimising the potential for disruption and securing successful transitions. This resource has a simple aim; to aid the development of services that support this transition. It seeks to persuade commissioners that an approach which recognises young adults as a specific group will achieve better outcomes and lower costs. It provides an overview of why such an approach is necessary, highlighting the benefits of multi-agency collaboration, and gives a step by step guide to how such an approach can be developed. Importantly, the guide offers suggestions as to how T2A services can be introduced with different levels of resources. This resource is targeted at senior managers and local commissioners from organisations such as Local Authorities, Youth Offending Services, Probation Trusts, Prisons, Health and Wellbeing Boards, and the offices of police and crime commissioners. This resource is based on the success of three T2A pilots, funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, which have operated since 2009 in London, Birmingham and West Mercia. The pilots have been subject to a range of indepth evaluation and scrutiny, with detailed learning available to aid replication of the approaches. This resource focuses on a particular period of a young person’s life, because it is a time when the risk of offending is highest and when support changes profoundly. The transfer from the youth justice system to the adult offender management system is potentially destabilising, but the T2A pilots have shown this transition can be managed smoothly. Young people who are trying to negotiate their way to independence can be supported more effectively if senior managers and commissioners ensure that the gaps between youth and adult services are minimised. Details: London: Clinks, 2012. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 21, 2012 at http://www.clinks.org/assets/files/PDFs/Going%20for%20gold%20guide%20-%20final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.clinks.org/assets/files/PDFs/Going%20for%20gold%20guide%20-%20final.pdf Shelf Number: 127254 Keywords: At-risk YouthDelinquency Prevention (U.K.)Social Services |
Author: Smith, Stephanie Title: Supporting Forth and Fife Valley: Pathways into prison and supports available to young people from Fife and Forth Valley Summary: This report presents the findings of a small-scale research project which examined the social work reports of 32 young men aged between 17 and 21 from the Fife and Forth Valley areas who were serving sentences in HM Young Offenders' Institution (HMYOI) Polmont. Additionally, the research included semi-structured interviews with 12 of the young men who agreed to speak to researchers. The fieldwork was carried out during December 2013 and January 2014. The population selected for inclusion comprised young men who entered Polmont during the year October 2012 to September 2013. Young men who are in prison are there for a variety of reasons and present with multiple issues and needs. Many have been involved in offending over a considerable period of time, while others have committed a serious offence that resulted in custody. Many have difficulties with substance misuse, mental health, and are not in employment or training. Research in this area highlights that many of the disadvantages that young people faced before custody are compounded on release (e.g. offending behaviour, homelessness, substance misuse, low educational attainment, unemployment, ill health and family breakdown) resulting in them being more vulnerable and susceptible to reoffending. Research questions The research was guided by two research questions as follows: 1) What do the social work reports of young men in HMYOI Polmont reveal about their pathways into and out of custody? 2) What types of support were made available to young people before entering and while in HMYOI Polmont? Details: Glasgow: Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice, 2014. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2014 at: http://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Supporting-Forth-and-Fife-Valley.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Supporting-Forth-and-Fife-Valley.pdf Shelf Number: 133642 Keywords: Juvenile InmatesMales RehabilitationSocial ServicesYoung Adult Offenders (Scotland) |
Author: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice Title: Peterborough social impact bond: HMP Doncaster: payment by results pilots: final re-conviction results for cohorts 1 Summary: This statistics bulletin presents the final outcomes for cohorts 1 of the Payment by Results (PbR) pilots for both the Social Impact Bond (SIB) at HMP Peterborough and the PbR pilot at HMP Doncaster. The frequency of re-conviction events for the Peterborough SIB cohort 1 is 8.4% lower compared to a matched national control group (142 re-conviction events per 100 offenders in Peterborough's cohort 1 compared to 155 re-conviction events per 100 offenders nationally). This means that the provider is on track to achieve the 7.5% reduction target for the final payment based on an aggregate of both cohorts, but that the pilot did not achieve the 10% reduction target for cohort 1. The cohort 1 re-conviction rate for offenders released from HMP Doncaster was 5.7 percentage points lower than the 2009 baseline year (from 58.0% in the 2009 baseline year to 52.2% in cohort 13). This is a successful outcome for the provider, Serco, because the 5.0 percentage point threshold has been achieved, and they therefore retain the full core contract value for this pilot year. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Statistics Bulletin: Accessed November 26, 2014 at: http://socialwelfare.bl.uk/subject-areas/services-client-groups/adult-offenders/ministryofjustice/166708pbr-pilots-cohort-1-results.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://socialwelfare.bl.uk/subject-areas/services-client-groups/adult-offenders/ministryofjustice/166708pbr-pilots-cohort-1-results.pdf Shelf Number: 134258 Keywords: Adult Offenders (U.K.)Prisoner ReentryRecidivismReconvictionSocial Services |
Author: Terry, Diane J. Title: Social Supports and Criminal Desistance among Formerly Incarcerated Youth in the Transition to Adulthood Summary: Nearly 100,000 youth exit correctional facilities each year and reenter the community. As they attempt to resituate themselves in their former environments, many will encounter emotional, social and logistical challenges that may deter them from achieving success. Further, many will reoffend shortly after their release. In order to break cycles of crime and recidivism among youth offenders, it is necessary to explore the pathways that lead them away from crime, particularly as they transition into adulthood. Theory asserts that criminal desistance is a process that entails individual behavioral changes, changing life circumstances, and environmental context. Little is known however, about how young people perceive and navigate the challenges they encounter in this process. Moreover, scholars have not fully explored the relationships between social supports and desistance, including how formerly incarcerated youth perceive, utilize, and access support to help them stay out of trouble. This study used a narrative, life history approach to explore the relationship between criminal desistance, perceptions, and use of social supports among formerly incarcerated, transition-age youth. The researcher conducted 30 in-depth qualitative interviews with 15 formerly incarcerated young men, ages 19-24. Coding and memoing were used to identify major themes related to the participants' desistance journeys and to develop a set of findings concerning the relationship between social support and criminal desistance in the transition to adulthood. This study located three offender typologies, each holding different ideas of desistance ranging from complete abstinence from crime to committing crimes while avoiding police contact. These definitions shaped how they approached the desistance barriers they faced: appearance, feeling marked, and relationships with people and places in the environment. Three important findings emerged with regards to the study variables. First, micro-level decision making helped the participants to navigate desistance barriers. Second, successful desisters latched onto "hooks" that enabled them to transition into adulthood and away from their criminal pasts. Last, social supports served as both a barrier and a coping strategy in the desistance process. Key implications are identified regarding how to better understand the construct of desistance, and how social supports can help young men in the desistance process. Details: Los Angeles: University of California at Los Angeles, 2012. 212p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 18, 2016 at: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/1s1455vg Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/1s1455vg Shelf Number: 138329 Keywords: DesistanceJuvenile OffendersRecidivismRehabilitationSocial ServicesYouthful Offenders |
Author: Disley, Emma Title: Evaluation of the Offender Liaison and Diversion Trial Schemes Summary: Liaison and diversion (L&D) schemes operate primarily in police custody suites and courts and aim to identify and assess people with vulnerabilities as they pass through the criminal justice system, to ensure their needs are identified. L&D services have been operating in England for at least 25 years. Not all areas have L&D services and among those that do, there is considerable variation in the nature of the services. In 2009, Lord Bradley reviewed the provision of services for people with mental health problems and learning disabilities in the criminal justice system and recommended that a national L&D model be created. Between 2011 and 2013, the Department of Health was supported by an external partner, the Offender Health Collaborative, to develop a national L&D model. The aims of the National Model are to: Improve access to healthcare and support services for vulnerable individuals and a reduction in health inequalities; divert individuals, where appropriate, out of the youth and criminal justice systems into health, social care or other supportive services; deliver efficiencies within the youth and criminal justice systems; and reduce reoffending or escalation of offending behaviours. In April 2014 a new model for L&D schemes was implemented in ten areas of England. An evaluation was commissioned by the Department of Health to look at the implementation of the new model in these sites, and to investigate any impacts on the criminal justice process, impacts on local organisations and impacts on the health and criminal justice outcomes of service users. Key Findings The implementation of the National Model for L&D had resulted in significant changes in all ten sites. - The National Model was, on the whole, implemented by the second year of operation across all ten sites. The implementation of the National Model had a range of positive benefits. - These included an increase in the total number of people being identified with vulnerabilities and an increase in relevant and timely information available to police, courts and partner agencies. New L&D support workers were seen as a strength of the National Model. - Support workers provided important 'hands-on' practical help to service users and supporting engagement and referrals. They also provided vital reassurance to service users in custody or in court and motivated them to accept support. Partnerships between police and L&D services were generally strong and the L&D service was valued in the custody suite. There were some schemes which faced implementation challenges. - These were mainly service user engagement and ensuring consistency in the quality of reports from the L&D service. Overall, the vast majority of stakeholders, across the range of partnership agencies, reported that the information provided by L&D services was useful. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2016. 157p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed July 23, 2016 at: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1200/RR1283/RAND_RR1283.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1200/RR1283/RAND_RR1283.pdf Shelf Number: 139809 Keywords: Liaison ServicesMental Health CarePolice Custody SuitesSocial Services |
Author: Great Britain. HM Inspectorate of Probation Title: Accommodation of Homeless: 16 and 17 Year Old Children Working with Youth Offending Teams Summary: In 2009, the House of Lords gave a landmark judgment clarifying the responsibilities of children's social care services for the provision of accommodation and support to homeless 16 and 17 year olds. With the impetus of the Southwark judgment , local authorities reviewed their procedures and (alongside others) produced new protocols, guidance and pathways. The prospects for homeless 16 and 17 year olds were improved as it paved the way for better access to accommodation and support services because of the judgment and the commitments that flowed from it. Six years on, this inspection revealed a mixed picture on the ground. Most distressingly, one in three 16 and 17 years olds in our inspection were housed in accommodation we considered unsuitable or unsafe. We were particularly concerned about the risks those sharing hostel or bed and breakfast accommodation with adult strangers were exposed to. No one local authority suggested to us that these shortcomings were because of a lack of funding. They appeared to stem more immediately from poor or incomplete assessment, a lack of joined-up working and recognition of children's wider needs, and a tendency to place children as though they were adults. Our inspection found that the range of suitable accommodation provision was limited and this resulted in some children being placed in accommodation that did not meet their needs. The children whose cases were reviewed had all suffered some form of trauma in their lives. Most had been previously known to children's social care services and some were subject to care orders. . They often exhibited difficult behaviour. All of those whom inspectors saw were not yet capable of successful independence and still needed some form of parenting and support. Again, we found a mixed picture on the ground. A minority received excellent support, whereas too many had been given a roof over their heads with little other than a few hours a week support from visiting professionals. An important factor in the successful transition of children to independent adulthood was the continued provision of support when they reached 18 years old. This was not available to all children, the deciding factor being whether they had become Looked After under the Children Act 1989, giving them rights as care leavers to support beyond the age of 18 years. It is not known how many 16 and 17 year olds find themselves alone and relying on their local authority for accommodation to avoid homelessness. The data and information collected locally and collated nationally3 is not sufficiently comprehensive or joined-up. In our inspection of six local authorities we saw no evidence of Local Safeguarding Children Boards exercising any scrutiny of the local situation. What is more, in areas where there were shortfalls, senior managers seemed tolerant and accepting of the state of affairs. Refreshingly, we found examples of excellent practice, and we set out specific examples in this report. In summary, two in three children were in suitable accommodation; one in three was not. The wider support they received was of variable quality - sometimes excellent, in other cases woefully inadequate. These differences are hard to comprehend, given the clear intentions of the Southwark judgment. Details: London: The Inspectorate, 2016. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 14, 2016 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/09/Thematic-Report-Accommodation-of-Homeless-16-and-17-Year-Old-Children.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/09/Thematic-Report-Accommodation-of-Homeless-16-and-17-Year-Old-Children.pdf Shelf Number: 147846 Keywords: Homeless YouthHomelessnessJuvenile OffendersJuvenile ProbationSocial ServicesYouth Accommodation |
Author: Pettus-Davis, Carrie Title: Deterioration of Social Support Post-Incarceration for Emerging Adults Summary: Millions of emerging adults (ages 18-25) come into contact with the criminal justice system each year. Over 2.5 million emerging adults were arrested in 2013 (FBI, 2013) and approximately 188,092 were incarcerated in state and federal prisons (Carson, 2014). Emerging adulthood is a critical time in an individual's life when social roles, occupational directions, and behavioral choices have profound and long-lasting implications (Arnett, 2000). Thus, incarceration during this developmental period of a person's life can have drastic and negative impacts on the individual's transition to adulthood. Non-incarcerated emerging adults spend their late teens and early 20s navigating new social roles with employment and education, developing adult relationships outside the family unit, and exploring long term intimate partnerships that might lead to marriage and children. In contrast, incarcerated emerging adults spend this time confined in a volatile and often dangerous environment with few opportunities to connect to the outside world or excel in adult roles such as stable and fulfilling employment. Moreover, research shows that emerging adults leaving incarceration face substantially reduced social, occupational, and civic opportunities (Steinberg, Chung, & Little, 2004) further limiting their chances for post-incarceration success and a healthy transition into adulthood (Bonnie, Stroud, & Breiner, 2015; Sullivan, 2004). While post-incarceration success is challenging for individuals of all ages, the possibility of a successful transition may be particularly challenging for emerging adults as evidenced by the high rates of recidivism. A five-year national study of formerly incarcerated persons found that 75.9% of former prisoners age 24 or younger were arrested for a new offense within three years, compared to 69.7% of those aged 25 to 30 and 60.3% of those 40 or older (Durose, Cooper, & Snyder, 2014). The rate of over three-quarters of emerging adults presumably re-engaging in criminal behaviors after an initial incarceration is profound. Indeed, many factors influence the likelihood of continued criminal behavior after a period of incarceration. Two decades of research suggest eight critical risk factors for future criminal behavior among criminally-involved individuals (Andrews & Bonta, 2010). These factors include a prior criminal history, antisocial personality traits, criminogenic thinking patterns, associations with others who engage in crime, substance abuse, low employment/education histories, lack of prosocial leisure activities, and poor family and other social relationships - many of which are in a state of flux during emerging adulthood making emerging adulthood a particularly influential period (Arnett, 2004). Importantly, social support from others becomes a significant linchpin for helping emerging adults navigate their changing social roles in positive and prosocial ways (Bonnie, et al., 2015). The importance of social relationships in well-being is empirically documented in major research areas such as mental health, stress, criminology, chronic illness, and substance abuse (Cohen, Underwood, & Gottlieb, 2000; Sarason & Sarason, 2009). In fact, the research base is replete with evidence "showing that social ties and social support are positively and causally related to mental health, physical health, and longevity" and that "social support buffers the harmful physical and mental health impacts of stress exposure" (Thoits, 2011b, p.145). Thus, relationships with caring adults help encourage compliance with social norms and regulate behavior even in the face of adversity. Unfortunately, incarceration disrupts social support networks and some research suggests that the longer an individual is incarcerated, the more social support is allowed to atrophy (Martinez & Abrams, 2013). Increasingly, researchers and program developers are seeking to build post-incarceration interventions designed to target naturally occurring social support relationships and establish or re-establish stable social support systems (Pettus-Davis et al., 2015). Moreover, many of these interventions concentrate on the period immediately after release because the first six months following post-incarceration is the period in which people are most likely to re-engage in crime or become re-incarcerated (Altschuler & Brash, 2004; Bullis, Yovanoff & Havel, 2004). Published evaluations of social support interventions for formerly incarcerated persons have been on short-term demonstration projects and results have been mixed in terms of effectiveness at lowering criminal recidivism (Fontaine, Taxy, Peterson, Breaux, & Rossman, 2015; Sullivan, Mino, Nelson, & Pope, 2002; Wilson & Davis, 2006). However, anecdotal observations from the lead author's intervention development work for formerly incarcerated persons suggests that initial spikes in social support for those leaving prison are followed by slow but steady declines in that social support beginning after the first six months post-incarceration. Thus, if social support deteriorates over time, these short lived interventions are likely not sufficient. These interventions may not be long enough or don't focus enough on stability or retention of social support for long enough. Details: St. Louis: Concordance Institute for Advancing Social Justice, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, 2016. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper # CI42616: Accessed September 17, 2016 at: https://concordanceinstitute.wustl.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/Deterioration%20of%20Social%20Support%20Post-Incarceration%20for%20Emerging%20Adults.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://concordanceinstitute.wustl.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/Deterioration%20of%20Social%20Support%20Post-Incarceration%20for%20Emerging%20Adults.pdf Shelf Number: 147944 Keywords: Prisoner ReentrySocial ServicesSocial SupportTrauma |
Author: Day, Laurie Title: Evaluation of the Sefton Community Adolescent Service (CAS): Research report Summary: In December 2014, Sefton Council was awarded $1.1m from the Department for Education as part of the Children's Social Care Innovation Programme, to establish a new multi -professional service dedicated to vulnerable adolescents aged 12 to 25 years - the Sefton Community Adolescent Service (CAS). The project received a further L3.9m from the Council and local partner organisations, with the aim of bringing about a step change in support for vulnerable young people, and achieving better outcomes. In March 2015, Ecorys (UK) was appointed to undertake an independent evaluation of the CAS. A mixed methods design was deployed, incorporating desk research, qualitative interviews with key stakeholders within the CAS service and partner organisations; qualitative interviews with young people and their families, and a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA). The work took place between summer 2015 and autumn 2016. Key findings - overall, the project achieved mixed success. The original plan was overly ambitious, incorporating too many sub-pilots, and the CAS was rolled out while management and supervisory structures were still under development. Nonetheless, a boost to management capacity in early 2016 and a new joint protocol, helped to establish a niche for the CAS, bridging Early Help and Children's Social Care (CSC) - the CAS was characterised by its organisation into multi-professional co-located team(s), underpinned by social pedagogy and restorative practice, and combining a key worker model with a residential short-term breaks unit. While bearing some resemblance to Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST), the CAS was wider in scope, with less focus on youth justice issues and a greater emphasis on family reunification - the ability to capture and measure outcomes was hindered by a lack of centralised data held on individual young people referred to the CAS and their families. This situation arose as a result of delays in establishing a fit-for-purpose case recording system, and limited access to data from partner organisations. The changing structure of the CAS, and the shift towards a co-working arrangement with CSC in the later stages of the project, also meant that cases from different periods were not always comparable - the available management data provides a broadly positive overall picture of the CAS. Approaching two thirds (65 per cent) of CAS cases were closed because the original aims in the family plan were achieved. A smaller proportion of cases were closed due to withdrawal of consent (26 per cent), or moving out of area (9 per cent) - around 5 per cent of young people who were the subject of a CAS episode went on to become LAC at some point afterwards. The main factors identified by CAS teams included the complexity of some of these cases, and the young people's long history of involvement in the care system. CAS practitioners considered that some young people were referred too late for the CAS to offer an alternative to becoming LAC - young people and families consistently self-reported positive changes to their lives through the qualitative interviews. These included improvements to self confidence, family relationships, engagement in education, healthier lifestyles and behaviours, and being able to remain at home safely. The trust in the relationship with the key worker, and participation in setting goals, were particularly valued by young people, although they often had high expectations of the accessibility of their key worker - a wide range of outcomes were also reported indirectly by practitioners, although the format of the CAS assessment and case management tools meant that these were not always recorded systematically. Practitioners had routinely observed: stronger relationships between family members; re-engagement with education; reductions in missing episodes; reductions in levels of illegal substance misuse; securing access to temporary accommodation for homeless young people; facilitating access to specialist assessments (e.g. SEND, mental health); - there was some evidence of savings arising from service improvements, including reduced numbers of different professionals involved per individual CAS case, and streamlining of administrative processes. Quantifiable savings also accrued from a reduced incidence of missing episodes, and cases stepped down from CIN or CP plans. These savings were offset by the costs of young people who became LAC Details: London: Department of Education, 2017. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Children's Social Care Innovation Programme Evaluation Report 39 Accessed September 9, 2017 at: http://cdn.basw.co.uk/upload/basw_74516-6.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://cdn.basw.co.uk/upload/basw_74516-6.pdf Shelf Number: 147197 Keywords: AdolescentsAt-Risk YouthSocial Services |
Author: Ofsted Title: Growing up neglected: a multi-agency response to older children Summary: This report is about the third joint targeted area inspection programme, which began in May 2017 and examined 'the multi-agency response to older children who are living with neglect'. This report considers the most significant learning from six inspections of local authority areas with a focus on the neglect of older children. The inspections reviewed practice in children's social care, education, health services, the police, youth offending services and probation services. The report recognises that much has been done by agencies to address neglect of younger children but it calls for a greater awareness of the neglect of older children and a focus on trauma-based approaches to tackling it. It also calls for a greater awareness among professionals in adult services of the risks of neglect of older children who are living with parents with complex needs. Details: Manchester, UK: Ofsted, 2018. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 27, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/722740/Older_children_neglect_FINAL_060718.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/722740/Older_children_neglect_FINAL_060718.pdf Shelf Number: 151704 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Maltreatment Social Services |
Author: Action for Children Title: Revolving door part 2: are we failing children at risk of abuse and neglect? Summary: A year ago, we published research showing that there were an estimated 140,000 children on the fringes of social care without support. These children were referred to local authority children's services because someone was worried about them, were assessed, but did not meet thresholds for statutory support, and then were not signposted to other help. At the time, we questioned if the children left in this situation, end up in a revolving door being re-referred into children's social care, only getting help when they reach crisis point. Now we can reveal just how many of these children are coming back for help year after year because the opportunity for early intervention may have been missed. New figures for this report reveal that over a two-year period, as many as 36,000 children had to be referred a number of times before there was any statutory intervention to help them with serious issues like abuse and neglect and family dysfunction This is important. Vital family support services for problems like domestic violence and substance misuse can provide help that can stop problems spiraling out of control, and prevent the need for statutory services later on. However, years of central government budget cuts mean that often, these essential support services are no longer available. This can lead to poor outcomes for children and families. Analysis of serious case reviews where children had had some contact with children's social care found that 45% involved children who were below the threshold for a statutory service. It also leads to poor outcomes for local authorities who may end up paying for more costly interventions: research found that for every L1 invested in targeted services designed to catch problems early, society benefits by between L7.60 and L9.20. There is a compelling case to support these children, but they are often overlooked; this report is one of the first to look at who these children are and what happens to them. Our analysis looks at a two-year period from 2013/14 to 2014/15. Details: Watford: Action for Children, 2018. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 27, 2018 at: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/media/10540/revolvingdoor_pt2_final.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk/media/10540/revolvingdoor_pt2_final.pdf Shelf Number: 151705 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Maltreatment Social Services |
Author: Pettus-Davis, Carrie Title: The Psychological Toll of Reentry: Early Findings from a Multistate Trial Summary: The incarceration experience is highly destabilizing for most individuals. For individuals who have never directly experienced incarceration, it is easy to understand the power of this physical disruption when it is framed in concrete terms: the distance between the prison and an incarcerated person's home and family, the number of birthdays an incarcerated parent misses, the loss of a job, the foreclosure of a home, or the repossession of a car. However, incarceration also creates a cognitive and emotional disruption for many men and women who must grapple with the fact that not only has the world changed dramatically during their incarceration, but they have also been forever changed by the incarceration experience. For many, leaving incarceration initiates a phase of psychological turmoil. Men and women returning home must quickly adapt to the changes they see all around them - in the world, in their families, and in their communities - and they yearn to rapidly move toward independence and self-sufficiency. For those individuals with strong support systems, this transition may be relatively smooth - at least initially. However, the vast majority of individuals who release from incarceration find themselves in survival mode, acutely aware of how they no longer quite fit into the life they led prior to incarceration. These men and women struggle to meet multiple demands. Some of these demands are imposed by the state - attending drug treatment, abiding by the rules of a halfway house, or wearing an ankle monitor. Other demands are self-imposed - finding employment to make up for lost wages and provide for one's family, staying in recovery from a substance use disorder, or healing broken family bonds. When these men and women describe their lives during reentry, the stories they tell are permeated by worry. They worry about having been away and they worry about being back home. They worry about finances and feeding their children and they worry that work takes them away from the children they are so desperate to spend time with. They worry about what it means for them to need help from a service provider and some worry that they will not survive unless they beg for that help. Unfortunately, leaving incarceration is an incredibly common experience as more than 10,000 individuals leave prisons each week across the United States. They return to families who also experience the burden of incarceration and the reentry of their loved ones. Therefore, the psychological turmoil inherent to the reentry experience is created for huge segments of the American public every single year. This report is the second in a series of public reports on a multistate, multisite study of a reentry services model referred to as the 5-Key Model for Reentry, or the 5-Key Model for short. In the first report, we described the internal and external barriers that 5-Key Model participants faced in the early days and weeks of incarceration. In this report, we describe whether and how our participants are accessing services and the landscape of reentry that exist in the absence of the 5-Key Model intervention. We do this by reporting on the experiences of those study participants who were randomly assigned to receive whatever reentry supports currently exist in both the correctional systems with which they are involved and in their communities. We then describe our commitment to rapid translation of research findings into real world policies and practices and the feedback loop that we are using to increase the impact of research as we learn. We end by describing what we expect to see next in the study and with our participants, and pose questions we hope our communities will grapple with when thinking about what it means for all of us when those who have been incarcerated succeed. Details: Tallahassee: Florida State University, College of Social Work, Institute for Justice Research and Development, 2019. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2019 at: https://ijrd.csw.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/upcbnu1766/files/media/images/publication_pdfs/5Key_QR2_Psychological_Toll_of_Reentry.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://ijrd.csw.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/upcbnu1766/files/media/images/publication_pdfs/5Key_QR2_Psychological_Toll_of_Reentry.pdf Shelf Number: 155739 Keywords: Prisoner ReentrySocial ServicesSocial SupportTrauma |