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Biomedical subjects

Richard Dembo

Publications and source records attributed to Richard Dembo.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Diversion from the juvenile justice system: the Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center Post-Arrest Diversion Program.

Many arrested youth present with multiple problems, including substance use and mental health problems, poor academic performance, and often come from violent homes and neighborhoods. These problems are directly associated with delinquent behavior and status offenses, presenting challenges to justice agencies, which must respond to these factors to support youths' resources and resiliencies and to reduce the probability of recidivism. The Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center implemented a diversion program for first-time, nonviolent youth. The Post-Arrest Diversion (PAD) program provides systematic, standardized screening and assessment, individualized case planning, an extensive referral service, and case management and follow-up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The impact of a family empowerment intervention on juvenile offender heavy drinking: a latent growth model analysis.

We report the results of a growth model analysis of the impact of a Family Empowerment Intervention (FEI) on the heavy drinking over a 36-month follow-up period among youths processed at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center. Families involved in the project were randomly assigned to either receive an Extended Services Intervention (ESI) or the FEI. Families in the ESI group received monthly phone contacts and, if indicated, referral information; FEI families received three one-hour, home-based meetings per week for approximately 10 weeks from a clinician-trained paraprofessional. By seeking to improve family functioning by empowering parents, it was hypothesized that target youths' behavior and psychosocial functioning would improve. Although the difference between FEI and ESI was not significant, the reported frequency of getting very high or drunk on alcohol declined more over time for FEI completers than FEI noncompleters. The results provide support for the impact of the FEI services.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Innovative approaches to identifying and responding to the needs of high risk youth.

Following a critical review of key issues facing the delivery of effective, cost-attractive services to high-risk youth, and research addressing these experiences, we identify some innovative approaches to identify and respond to the multiple needs of these youth. The importance of providing family services with an ecological focus is stressed. Further, some exciting developments occurring in juvenile assessment centers. involving screening and in-depth assessment, as well as intervention strategies are presented. These innovative developments include for the Tampa Juvenile Assessment Center: 1) a family empowerment intervention service for arrested youth; 2) a family-focused early-intervention, intensive case management service for youth entering a diversion program; and 3) for the Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center, the comprehensive program of research and program development occurring in the context of the National Demonstration Project. We conclude with a discussion of major issues facing the field and the continuing need for a national commitment to help the many troubled youths entering the juvenile justice system.

Adolescent↗