NCJ Number
179134
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 50 Issue: 3 Dated: Summer 1999 Pages: 57-63
Date Published
1999
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A public-private venture in Michigan sought to address pessimism about juvenile detention by demonstrating the usefulness of local juvenile detention to the rehabilitative efforts of the juvenile court.
Abstract
The Holistic Environmental Life-skills Project (HELP) was conducted in Calhoun County in 1990-94 with funding from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation as a model program for the county's most criminally active juveniles. HELP contained four parts: (1) social skills training, (2) computer-assisted instruction, (3) creative arts education, and (4) parenting skills education. Each component had a citizens advisory committee to generate innovative ideas, community support, and encouragement. Process, formative, and empirical evaluations of HELP used quantitative and qualitative strategies. Findings revealed that the program had a significant impact on the juvenile detention center and the youth it served. The program has been recognized through national awards, praise from local juvenile justice experts and others, community support, empirical data on positive gains by youth, and regional replication as other programs begin to implement its concepts.