Summer 1999

Scroll down or choose an article from our Summer 1999 newsletter:

From the Director
FSP Lowers Recidivism Rate by 30 Percent
Training and Video Available
Family Solutions Program Expands to Several Locations

From the FSP Director

The Family Solutions Program (FSP) has operated since 1992 on the premise that there are many youth offenders and other at-risk youth who have a desire to change, and begin anew. Their families have that desire too. This is why the FSP is built on looking ahead, instilling hope, developing skills, healing conflict relationships, and locating resources that can assist in productive living.

A major premise of the FSP is that families who come together in a group setting to address challenges and difficulties in their lives discover a trust among themselves. This fosters communication that serves to lessen the pain and frustration felt among parents and children in the program. Operating as a support group system, the FSP creates an environment for families to learn more about each other that generates mutual understanding and personal growth. The courts and the FSP leaders provide a structure and process from which positive and productive experiences emerge for their families.

The invisible line that is traditionally created between families and juvenile justice/youth services interventionists, one side with families viewed as "bad" and the other with professionals viewed as "agents," is crossed so that every one is on the same side. The Family Solutions Program advocates collaboration among families and interventionists. As the program session progresses, the line is erased completely. We offer this newsletter to foster collaboration with you and other juvenile justice personnel and family interventionists whose goal is to erase the invisible line.

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FSP Lowers Recidivism Rate by 30 Percent

Since 1993, the Family Solutions Program has shown an average 30 percent decrease in the recidivism rates of juvenile offenders who graduate from the program when compared to rates of those youth from the same courts who do not complete the program. Designed for youth who have committed a first offense, the FSP is an effective alternative to traditional methods of rehabilitation, like incarceration and probation.

The program combines first-time juvenile offenders, their parents and siblings, with professionals trained to counsel families. The FSP was developed based on the belief that family-based intervention and the group process are essential to eliminating situations at home that may contribute to juvenile delinquency. The program's goal is to foster changes in the youth's behavior and family environment that will decrease the likelihood of repeat offenses.

Even among participants who committed additional offenses soon after graduating from the program, re-offenses were lower over time among FSP graduates when compared to non-graduates.

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Training and Video Options Available

Two training options are available to assist you in developing, implementing, and leading the Family Solutions Program in your community. Option 1 offers a periodic training session led by the FSP Director and the FSP Coordinator at a designated location in Atlanta, GA. This one and a half-day training session is open to all professionals interested in juvenile delinquency prevention and at risk youth. Option 2 offers a one and a half-day training session at a site near the location that wants to begin or has initiated the program. This option allows training of many professionals from one or more organizations at a local site. Both option 1 and option 2 include an overview of the FSP, procedures for establishing a collaborative program operation in or across agencies, the referral process, the theory that drives the program, session-by-sesion content, video demonstrations of the group process, and evaluation procedures to provide justification for budget allocation. All training session materials, including handouts, worksheets, evaluation instruments, and videos are provided and included in the cost of training.

A 12-minute video on the Family Solutions Program is also available. It can be shared with juvenile court judges and court staff, youth intervention personnel, community and civic leaders, and interested others. The video includes glimpses of the program in action and interviews with the FSP Director, FSP group leaders, judges, law enforcement personnel, and youth and families who have participated in the program. For more information on these beneficial and invaluable training sessions and/or video, contact FSP Director, Dr. William Quinn, at (706) 542-4922 or bquinn@fcs.uga.edu.

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Family Solutions Program Expands to Several Locations

Since October 1997, many additional communities across the nation beyond the original site have implemented or expressed interest in implementing the Family Solutions program. Communities include:

• Aurora, Colorado
• Cordele, Georgia
• LaGrange, Georgia
• Tiger, Georgia
• Roundup, Montana
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Elko, Nevada
• Dayton, Ohio
• Greenville, Ohio
• Kingwood, Texas
• Lake Jackson Texas

Gateway Youth Programs, located in Greenville, Ohio, recently implemented the FSP and completed a cycle in January 1999. The organization received referrals from the juvenile court, children and family services, and parents. It successfully graduated seven youth and their families from nine original referrals. Also, Montana Youth Court implemented the program in September 1998. Referrals were received from youth court/probation, family services, and parents. The court successfully graduated five youth and their families and has influenced state interest to incorporate the program.

A major FSP initiative occurred in Bibb County (Macon), Georgia. The FSP in collaboration with the Bibb County Juvenile Justice Court recieved foundation grants to implement the program and train Bibb County Juvenile Court Judge Quintress Gilbert, her staff and Applied Behavioral Care treatment staff. Grant contributors include the India Benton Lesser Foundation, Community Foundation of Central Georgia, GEICO, Applied Behavioral Care and Security National Bank. Dr. William H. Quinn, Director of the FSP, and Jennifer Dunn, program coordinator of the FSP, provided training and follow-up with monthly consultations resulting in the completion of three, 10-week FSP cycles graduating 29 youth. The Bibb County Juvenile Court is expanding the program and including other at-risk youth.

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