4059.0: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - 9:10 AM

Abstract #9643

Using the Youth Outcome Questionnaire with a Juvenile Criminal Justice Population

Kevin D. Siddons, EdD and Elke H. Rockwell, MSS, LSW. Department of Professional Standards, Office of Outcome Studies, KidsPeace, Inc, 5300 KidsPeace Drive, Patriot Center, Orefield, PA 18069, 610-799-7768, ksiddons@kidspeace.org

In accordance with KidsPeace's commitment to developing data driven program improvement systems, the Youth Outcome Questionnaire (YOQ) as an outcome measurement tool is being implemented throughout its continuum of care. This includes the juvenile justice population at KidsPeace’s Mesabi Academy in Minnesota. Mesabi Academy has three distinct populations: a regular residential population, a secure residential population, and a sex offender population. Presently, there are no published normative data for the YOQ and juvenile criminal justice populations.

The YOQ emphasizes psychiatric symptomatology and conduct related issues. While the literature on juvenile sex offenders is still in its beginning stages, it does suggest that many juvenile sex offenders appear fairly well adjusted and function adequately in the community with the exception of their sexual offending. If this is indeed the case, the YOQ may prove not be an optimal tool to measure treatment outcomes in this population. With the general juvenile justice population, the situation is thought to be different. Given the fact that this population by definition has a high incident of conduct disorder and is reported in the literature to have a considerable psychiatric co-morbidity, it may be presumed that the YOQ will be a useful instrument to measure treatment outcome in this population.

The YOQ is completed by staff and the youth at admission and every 30 days until discharge. Analysis of this data will be presented along with comparisons to other assessment tools collected at the same time.

Learning Objectives: 1) Participants will learn about how to determine whether an outcome measure is appropriate for their specific population. 2) Participants will learn how the Youth Outcome Questionnaire can be used with a criminal juvenile justice population. 3) Participants will learn about Youth Outcome Questionnaire norms developed for a juvenile criminal justice population

Keywords: Adolescents, Outcome Measures

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: OQ-Systems (ORYX provider). KidsPeace, Inc. (treatment program providing services to the juvenile criminal justice population)
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: KidsPeace, Inc. is my employer.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA