REFLECTIONS FROM THE FIELD
by Mark Frost and Rebecca Winner

Since JCIP Phase III or "CHALLENGES" curriculum was launched in February 2002, its use has steadily increased during aftercare with youth that had successfully completed Phase I and II (CHOICES and CHANGES) while in the Juvenile Institutions.

Phase III was designed to offer a continuum of Cognitive Restructuring that was meaningful to the "Challenges" of reintegration to the community, so that the youth could practice what he or she had previously learned in CHOICES and CHANGES.

Juvenile Probation and Parole Agents throughout the State of Wisconsin have gradually used the 15-lesson curriculum more frequently as more youth complete Phase I and II. Forty-eight youth participated in Phase III in the community in the first half of 2004. To help increase participation, the South East Region has utilized a contracted person, Robb Taylor, at the Milwaukee Report Center, to facilitate Phase I and II for youth that had not been exposed to the basic concepts and knowledge of JCIP.

Complete tracking results for both the field and institutions are reported under JCIP 2^nd Quarter Results.

A positive outcome of using JCIP is that in a number of cases the youth have shared the Phase III curriculum material with their parents or other adults in their homes. As a result, some parents wondered if they too could learn what their child had. To that end, the "FAMILIES COUNT" curriculum was developed. "FAMILIES COUNT" will be piloted August 4, 2004 with a group of youth from Ethan Allen School and their families. Dr. David Smith, Consultant on Juvenile Cognitive Intervention to the Division of Juvenile Corrections, will be facilitating this group with South East Region Probation and Parole Agent co-facilitators, Pat Bridges, Jolyn Haugen, and Angela Fields. Youth at Ethan Allen School will be brought to the South East Region Report Center to meet with their families and participate in the "FAMILIES COUNT" groups. Criteria to enter this group at this time is that the youth’s targeted placement will be the parental home in Milwaukee County, the youth must have completed Phase I and II JCIP and that the family is committed to participating in the "FAMILIES COUNT" groups.

The "FAMILIES COUNT" curriculum is an exciting program that has great potential of helping families get a fresh start at communicating and problem solving with their child and not result in the usual adversarial relationships that could result in failure and recidivism.

In other efforts to expand the reach of JCIP concepts, the SERO Holton Street office is also piloting the use of a book called "Power Source, Taking Charge of your Life" written by Bethany and Robin Casarjian, under the auspices of the Lionheart Foundation. The authors begin the book by saying it is written for "young men and women who struggle every day with hard choices, tough family situations, and big questions about their futures. It is filled with the voices of teenagers facing the same challenges that you might be dealing with right now....". The book has sixteen chapters, among them, Risk Taking, Anger, Offending Behavior/Taking Responsibility, Grief and Loss, Shame and Disrespect and Our Friends Our Choices. Prior to distributing the book to staff, a DJC committee reviewed it for appropriateness and usefulness. The committee felt the book could be a good way to augment JCIP programming and suggested staff use selected chapters without requiring use of the book. Staff was also advised to ensure that youth have access to appropriate adults with whom they could discuss their reactions to the material. Both the book and a facilitators manual are available through www.lionheart.org.

At SERO, a Power Source group is facilitated by two UWM social work interns, Phil Olson and Kathleen Stack. They meet with DJC clients on Monday afternoons from 4-5 PM in the Milwaukee Report Center. The group has met four times and has dealt with such issues as high-risk activities, friend choices, trust, anger, disrespect and shame. The group will continue to meet through the end of August.

A pre-test was administered to participants at the start of the initial group. A post-test will be conducted at the end. The interns will write up results from the pilot data and distribute to staff.

The book is also used selectively to augment JCIP programming at the Juvenile Correctional Institutions.

Youths reactions to the Juvenile Cognitive Intervention Program and Power Source have been positive.