Families Count
Developed by Dr. David Smith

The "Families Count" program is designed to be a three-lesson "bridge" program for youth leaving the institutions and entering the "Transition" phase of their programming. Its purpose is to orient families to how the Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program concepts and skills will help youth remain crime-free in their communities.  "Families Count" specifically utilizes the format from Phase I and Phase II of the Juvenile Cognitive Interventions Program (JCIP), with which the youth are familiar. Youth participate in the lessons as facilitators as well as students in addressing coming home issues of both parent and youth.

The "Families Count" program is to be delivered by JCIP trained facilitators with assistance from JCIP trained field agents. The first two lessons are to be accomplished while the youth is in the institution and just prior to their release. A third component or "lesson" will be delivered approximately 30 days after the youth is returned to the family and is residing in the community.

Each lesson will include a light meal with opportunity for the parents to get to know one another and engage their son/daughter in a more relaxed format.

Each lesson will be introduced and led by a facilitator. Materials will be distributed for use at that time. Youth will be assisting the facilitator and function as co-facilitators wherever possible in Lesson I.

Parents tell us that the virtues, Hope and it’s twin Optimism, often can become lost during the long months and sometimes years of struggling to raise a son or daughter who have become involved in delinquent behavior. The stories of parent’s sacrifice, pain and suffering could fill several books. Parents tell us of the rush of excitement when it appears that their youth is "heading in the right" direction. They also share with us the crushing pain that comes in an instant and banishes hope when the police, school, social worker, or friend informs them that their son or daughter has committed yet another offense.

Yet, as parents (and yes, as youth) we hold deep in our hearts the hope that, despite what is happening now, "things will turn out okay." When incarcerated youth were asked, "What is the most important thing your parents can do to help you succeed?" We discovered that on top of the list was the theme of HOPE. They knew that they disappointed their parents--disappointed themselves--but they firmly believe that a parent’s hope and optimism about their eventual success would be extremely valuable.

Psychologist Michael Seligman has studied hope and optimism for much of his recent career and is credited with some significant findings:

1. That hope and optimism can be learned
2. Optimistic beliefs matter more than intellectual and social-economic level
3. Optimistic beliefs decrease stress and increase creativity

Lesson I focuses on ways to build and maintain hope and optimism.

Parents often privately say to youth workers and field agents, " I love my son (daughter), and want him home, but I really don’t know if he has changed. I fear that once back home he will go right back to the way he was before being incarcerated. I don’t know if I can take that."

Stanton Samenow, a psychologist who has studied delinquency and how delinquent’s think offers this simple advice to parents: "Time will tell." Our youth have experienced treatment options while incarcerated, one of them "Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program (JCIP, Phases I and II), is a 12 week program that is designed to help youth understand the thinking patterns that led them into trouble over and over again. Additionally, it includes skills to assist youth to problem solve and stick with the new choices they are making. JCIP only helps if people truly want to change the patterns and practice using the thinking skills and problem solving skills.

Lesson II focuses on reviewing and accepting the past but charting a new course for the future.

Lesson III should be accomplished about one month after Lesson II was completed or about one month after the youth has returned to his home. It is intended as a follow-up to the work done in the institution—we’re terming it a "check-up." It’s purpose is to have parent and youth look at what has gone well and what needs to be worked on to support a successful re-integration into the family and community.

Piloting the Curriculum

The "Families Count" program is available to youth who participate in the Ethan Allen Short-Term Re-entry Program.  Since that program began operation on July 15 and the first referrals would not be ready for the Families Count sessions for at least three months, DJC will pilot the curriculum with other youth who are in a transition phase or being readied for return to their communities during the late summer and early fall 2004.  Some of the format for the "Families Count" curriculum is fashioned after the well-received SPRITE Program graduation ceremonies in which families hear from their sons about their experiences.  DJC is eager to learn how families and youth will receive this new family component of Juvenile Cognitive Intervention.