Evaluation of the Texas Youth Commission's Chemical Dependency Treatment Program, 1998-1999 (ICPSR 3141)

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Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose

The research goal of the first part of this study was to provide a systematic and empirical process evaluation of appropriate program placement and whether and to what extent selected individual-level factors were related to several key measures of program progress, as well as to variations in several process outcomes across each of five treatment sites. This evaluation specifically attempted to address questions concerning the relationships between risk assessment and program progress, dynamic and criminogenic needs and program progress, and treatment amenability and program progress, as well as investigating any variations in program progress across treatment sites. The research goal of the second part of this study was to provide a systematic and empirical outcome evaluation of the impact of the Texas Youth Commission's (TYC) Chemical Dependency Treatment Program (CDTP), including determination of the extent to which certain risk, need, amenability, program performance and delivery, and aftercare factors affected treatment impact. This evaluation specifically attempted to address the following questions: First, compared with those who have high chemical dependency needs but do not receive treatment, do youths in chemical dependency treatment fare better with respect to outcomes of rearrest and placement on a higher custody level, by offense type? Second, what factors (including demographic, risk, and dynamic and criminogenic need factors, treatment amenability, and program and parole progress and performance) are associated with variation among treatment group recipients in these outcomes? Third, which sub-groups/populations of treatment youths are most and least likely to benefit from treatment?

Study Design View help for Study Design

Data were obtained from the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), the state corrections agency responsible for serving violent and serious delinquent youth committed to the custody of the state. TYC collects a range of information on the risk, needs, and treatment amenability of its youths. Also, program performance is measured through the use of an exit assessment conducted by program staff, which essentially provides a report card summarizing each youth's involvement and progress in treatment. Data are provided for all juveniles who entered the CDTP from January through October 1998, and who were discharged by April 1, 1999. The treatment group consists of youths who invariably had a high need for chemical dependency treatment. The control group consists of youths who were eligible for treatment in the CDTP during this same time period but who did not receive it due to limited CDTP bed space. To obtain measures of drug use/abuse relapse, aftercare participation, and parole performance, a parolee data worksheet was created. TYC was able to provide information on who received chemical dependency treatment while on parole.

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Not applicable.

Universe View help for Universe

Juveniles who entered the Texas Youth Commission's Chemical Dependency Treatment Program from January through October 1998, and who were discharged by April 1, 1999.

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Description of Variables View help for Description of Variables

Five core variables of the process evaluation data are program completion, program expulsion, days to completion, days to expulsion, and number of behavior infractions. The process evaluation includes the following variables from individual exit assessments: the youth's overall participation, whether the youth understood the curriculum, understood addiction, sought help, acknowledged addiction, and acknowledged impact, the youth's performance grade, whether the youth committed to be drug-free, family involvement, special circumstances, and performance index. Demographic variables are race, age, parents' marital status, and gender. Variables addressing risk factors include classifying offense, offender class, risk level, number of felony referrals, number of felony adjudications, number of previous TYC commitments, and number of parole revocations. Other variables in the process evaluation address the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI), the Diagnostic Statistical Manual IV (DSM-IV) chemical dependency treatment need, TYC treatment amenability score, and the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES). Variables available in the outcome evaluation data address issues of rearrest, higher custody level, aftercare sessions, drug tests, and parole compliance.

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Not applicable.

Presence of Common Scales View help for Presence of Common Scales

Likert-type scales, Intelligence Quotient scale, the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory, the Diagnostic Statistical Manual IV, and the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale.

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Original Release Date View help for Original Release Date

2003-03-11

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