Exploring the Self-Perceived Role of South African Speech-Language Pathologists in Youth Correctional Facilities

Justice-involved youth (JIY) represent a vulnerable population with a well-documented elevated risk for language disorder compared to their nonoffending peers. Research also suggests that JIY with language disorder are more likely to reoffend after release. Despite this, the involvement of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in JIY rehabilitation in South Africa remains limited. This study explored the perceptions of South African SLPs regarding their potential roles in youth correctional facilities.

A cross-sectional, mixed-method online survey design was used. Participants were recruited by means of nonprobability purposive sampling through various social media platforms. A total of 35 complete data sets were collected.

Most participants were unfamiliar with the current role of SLPs in youth correctional facilities (n = 25, 86.2%). Despite this, most viewed SLP involvement as potentially beneficial to JIY rehabilitation (n = 26, 74.3%) and agreed with the need for increased advocacy for the involvement of SLPs in JIY rehabilitation programs (n = 23, 79.3%), although fewer than half reported feeling comfortable working in youth correctional settings (n = 15, 42.9%). Roles such as supporting literacy development and acquisition (n = 29, 100%) and communication assessment (n = 29, 100%) received the highest priority scores.

Participants generally held positive attitudes toward the potential role of SLPs in youth correctional facilities, supporting the profession's role in rehabilitation teams. Despite a small sample size, the study offers valuable insights into South African SLPs' perspective on the context, highlighting the need for further research on the topic.

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.32692002.