Second Opportunity for Success: Evaluation of a Juvenile Diversion Program

Abstract

This paper describes the evaluation of Second Opportunity for Success, a 7-week psychoeducation diversion program for youth and their family in Northeast Texas. Between 2017 and 2019, 27 families participated in pre and post-intervention assessments, which included surveys, observation tasks, and interviews to track changes in youths’ self-esteem, resistance to peer pressure and ability to resolve conflicts as well as parents' caregiving behaviors. Parents' scores on the use of corporal punishment decreased significantly and they expressed less anger during post program observation task. Pre and post-intervention assessments of the remaining parenting scales (e.g., involvement, disciplining) did not indicate a significant change. Youth scores on pre and post surveys did not indicate significant changes, but observations of their conflict resolution demonstrated improvements in their ability to resolve conflicts with parents. Interview data indicated that both youth and their parents perceived program benefits related to youths' personal growth, youths’ ability to resist peer pressure, parenting skills, and youth-parent interaction. A 90-day follow-up of the participants indicated that 85% of youth were adjusting positively at home, in school, and in the community. Although based on a relatively small sample, our results demonstrate that participating in the 7-week program accrued important, albeit modest, participant benefits. Findings are discussed in the context of practice and research implications.