Family-Centered Care in Juvenile Justice Institutions: A Mixed Methods Study Protocol

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Adolescent Rehabilitation
• Family Systems Therapy

Background:

• Juvenile justice interventions aim to prevent recidivism and promote social reintegration.
• Family-centered approaches, involving parents, are crucial for successful adolescent rehabilitation.
• Two family-centered care programs have been developed for short-term and long-term stays in juvenile justice settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the family-centered care program's effectiveness in short-term juvenile justice settings.
• To assess the program's impact during its initial two years of implementation in the Netherlands.
• To examine the study design for evaluating this family-centered care initiative.

Main Methods:

• An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was employed, starting with a quantitative pilot study.
• A pre-post quasi-experimental design quantitatively compares family-centered care with usual care.
• Qualitative in-depth interviews with adolescents, parents, and group workers explore and interpret quantitative findings.

Main Results:

• Family-centered care is expected to increase parental involvement and motivation for therapy among adolescents.
• Improvements in family interactions, reduced parenting stress, and decreased adolescent problem behavior are anticipated.
• Higher satisfaction levels with family-centered care are predicted for adolescents, parents, and staff.

Conclusions:

• Evaluating care programs in juvenile justice settings presents significant challenges.
• Practice-based research employing mixed methods is essential for addressing implementation issues.
• This study aims to improve care for detained adolescents and their families through evidence-based insights.