EQUIPPING YOUTH TO HELP ONE ANOTHER (EQUIP)
OVERVIEW
Equipping Youth to Help One Another (EQUIP) is a multi-faceted program for juvenile delinquents and other youth with anti-social conduct disorders. The program uses guided group interactions to cultivate a climate for change and teach youth social skills, anger management, and moral reasoning. In an evaluation of the program, 57 boys between the ages of 15 and 18 who were recently committed to a juvenile corrections facility were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) The experimental EQUIP treatment group, 2) the motivational control group, or 3) the simple control group. Results indicated that participants in the EQUIP group experienced significant decreases in self- and staff-reported institutional misconduct as well as gains in social skills, whereas participants in either control group did not. There were no differences between groups in regards to changes in moral judgment.
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM
Target population: Juvenile delinquents and youth with antisocial conduct disorders between the ages of 12 and 17
Equipping Youth to Help One Another (EQUIP) is a multi-component program aimed at teaching social skills, anger management, and moral reasoning to children with conduct disorders. EQUIP uses two techniques, guided group interactions and skills training sessions, to foster these positive behaviors and coping techniques within the children.
The guided group interactions are adult-led, but youth-run, small group treatment sessions derived from the Positive Peer Culture (PPC) program which employs components from Aggression Replacement Training (ART). The sessions work to foster a climate for change where individuals reduce their use of anti-social and self-destructive behaviors and instead utilize behaviors that help others and themselves. During meetings, each group member discusses re-occurring problems, and individuals are rewarded for especially insightful observations.
EQUIP supplements the guided group interactions with skills training sessions that focus on social skills, anger management, and moral education. These social skills training sessions use modeling, imitation, feedback, and practice procedures to foster positive interpersonal interactions. The anger management component encourages cognitive-behavioral development in relevant areas such as self-monitoring of emotions and thoughts, thinking ahead, and self-evaluation. Finally, the moral education component focuses on developmental delays the children might have. Through group discussions, adults aid children in catching-up to other children their age in regards to moral reasoning.
Groups typically consist of eight to ten adolescents and one adult. Each session lasts between 1 and 1.5 hours, and groups typically meet five days a week.
EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM
Leeman, L.W., Gibbs, J.C., & Fuller, D. (1993). Evaluation of a multi-component group treatment program for juvenile delinquents. Aggressive Behavior, 19, 281-292.
Evaluated population: 57 adolescents between
the ages of 15 and 18 residing in a medium-security correctional facility in
the
Approach: Participants were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: 1) The experimental EQUIP treatment group, 2) the motivational control group, or 3) the simple control group. All participants were then given a series of measures collecting information on the following variables: pre-incarceration archival data on felony level offenses, self-reported pre-incarceration and institutional misconduct, moral judgment, and social skills.
Participants receiving the EQUIP treatment met for group sessions daily during weekdays for between 1 and 1.5 hours. Participants in the motivational control group received a five minute motivational session immediately following completion of the pre-testing. The motivational script urged participants to help out other inmates and described the benefits of engaging in these behaviors. Finally, participants in the simple control group did not receive any treatments or interventions.
The institutional misconduct questionnaire was administered again during the second month of incarceration. Additionally, post-testing occurred seven days prior to a participant's release from the detention facility or, for those who had one year sentences, during the sixth month of incarceration. During the post-test, participants again were measured for institutional misconduct, moral judgment, and social skills.
Results: Results indicated that participants receiving the EQUIP intervention had significantly greater decreases in self- and staff-reported misconduct and unexcused absences from school compared with participants in the control groups. Furthermore, participants in the EQUIP group were significantly less likely to recidivate than members of the control groups within twelve months of release. Additionally, participants in the EQUIP experienced significant gains in social skills, whereas participants in either control group did not. There were no differences between groups with regard to changes in moral judgment.
SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION
Information on implementing this program can be obtained from:
Dr. John C. Gibbs
Professor of Psychology
The
237 Psychology Building
Phone: (614) 292-7918
E-mail: gibbs.1@osu.edu
References:
Leeman, L.W., Gibbs, J.C., & Fuller, D. (1993). Evaluation of a multi-component group treatment program for juvenile delinquents. Aggressive Behavior, 19, 281-292.
Program categorized in this guide according to the following:
Evaluated participant ages: 12-17
Evaluated participant grades: N/A
Program age ranges in the guide: Adolescence, Youth
Program components: Mentoring/Tutoring, Clinic/Provider-Based
Measured outcomes: Social and Emotional, Behavioral Problems
KEYWORDS: Adolescence (12-17), Youth (16+), High-Risk, Juvenile Offenders, Gender-specific (male only), White or Caucasian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Clinic-based, Life Skills Training, Mentoring, Tutoring, Behavioral Problems, Conduct Disorder, Aggression, Delinquency, Social/Emotional Health
Program information last updated on 9/12/08.
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© Child Trends 2003 |
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