NCJ Number
207346
Date Published
2003
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Under the effective continuum of developmental community-based programs and services for at-risk children, this chapter begins the process of thinking about how to offer juvenile day treatment and considers key activities necessary in planning thoroughly.
Abstract
The success of a juvenile day treatment program depends on many components that must be considered prior to the serving of clients. This chapter discusses the formative stages in the planning, development, and designing of an effective day treatment program. These stages are critical to the creation and success of a day treatment program. In the planning stage of the program, it is necessary to identify local leadership, make explicit the motivations underlying the planning process, achieve consensus on the problem and its significance, analyze relevant data for decisionmaking, and identify gaps in the continuum of services and select a programmatic response to meet the need. Within the development stage of the program, it is necessary to agree on a vision, mission, and set goals for the program, specify the group targeted for service provision, build public support for the program, and provide adequate and stable financial resources. In the final stage of program design, effective practices include: choosing an administrative structure to oversee the program; selecting a “leader” to direct the program; identifying an appropriate facility to house the program; hiring staff with the proper qualifications, experience, and disposition; and considering other important logistical issues. These key issues should be addressed as the program is being conceptualized by policymakers. References