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Augusta M. Villanueva, PhD, Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University School of Public Health, 1505 Race Street, 11th floor, Rm. 1115, Mail Stop 660, philadelphia, PA 19102, 2157626513, av28@drexel.edu and Marcia Polansky, ScD, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University School of Public Health, 1505 Race Street, 11th Floor, Mail Stop 660, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
A proportion of inner-city youths are failing scholastically and/or involved in maladaptive behaviors resulting in their unsuccessful transition into adulthood. Venues to help them include residential and after-school programs, special classes, truant and/or delinquent programs, boot camps, and incarceration. These models are only partially effective, or effective for certain groups because the endpoint of maladaptive behavior results from the convergence of factors interfering with their successful progression. An alternative is the extended day treatment model including integrated schooling, mental health, and case management services in response to youths’ maladaptive attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, environmental problems (home, neighborhood), and scholastic deficiencies interfering with successful transition into higher education and/or employment. This study seeks to: 1) assess the effectiveness of an integrated extended day treatment program for 13-18 year old adjudicated Black, Latino, Asian, and white youths implemented in Philadelphia linking schooling, case management and mental health services; and 2) identify youths’ characteristics and environmental factors predictive of scholastic improvement and social adaptation. Congreso de Latinos Unidos’ Boys’ and Girls’ Centers enroll 40 youths each, offering them the opportunity to build upon positive environmental resources while enhancing their coping skills relative to negative factors. The study focuses on the efficacy of this model helping adjudicated youths build on positive resources in their familial, social, cultural, and environmental context to enhance scholastic performance and social adaptation. Investigational methods include chart reviews, focus groups, interviews, and self-administered bio-psychosocial assessments completed upon program enrollment and discharge.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Minorities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc., Philadelphia, PA
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.