The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41314

Josephine A. Allen, MSW, PhD¹, Mary C. Ruffolo, PhD², and Rosemary Sarri, PhD². (1) Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, 607-255-1973, jaa7@cornell.edu, (2) School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 South University, Rm 2726, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

This federally funded study analyzes the experiences of delinquent, diverted, and high-risk young women involved in the juvenile justice system within a large urban setting. This three-wave study follows young women, aged 12-17, as they participate in different types of programs, ranging from community-based to residential. Data gathered at wave 1 (n=170) - at the point of entry of a young woman into one of the programs under evaluation - will be the focus of this presentation. Detailed information on a multitude of risk and protective factors, the participant's service use history, and her experiences of discrimination and other barriers to service will be shared. Study data are obtained using a number of standardized assessment measures including: the Adolescent Interpersonal Competency Questionnaire, the CESD Depression Scale, Elliot's Self-Report Delinquency Scale, the Life Events Stress Scale, Monitoring the Future's School Performance and Substance Use Scales, and the Service Assessment for Children and Adolescents. Waves 2 and 3 are to occur, respectively, at 6 months from program entry or at completion/termination and at 3 months following completion/termination. Significant differences were found among the female youth based on program type (home/family, community residential (open) and closed residential)in several areas including levels of depression, experiences with the foster care system, school attendance, sexual abuse issues, involvement with the juvenile justice system and traumatic life events.

Learning Objectives: Participants will