Social Work Major Social Problem?

Question by Kady P: Social work major social problem?
I need to write a graduate paper on a major problem in America and a suggested change.
I want to involve kids in the foster care system or juvenile delinquency.
Any ideas?
Thanks

Best answer:

Answer by drdr
correlation between poverty and any social problem

Answer by d
JJS:
Mental health among youths in the JJS is significant (67.2% to 70.4% of juveniles in residential facilities). Substance abuse (drug crimes) is the most prevalent. It is very easy to find data regarding this. I would go along with that and provide suggestions for improvements including:
Implementing evidence based practices interventions within juvenile settings, including behavioral, correctional, and counseling.
Utilizing more alternative to sentencing programs- drug treatment, counseling, etc
Better screening for MH among juvenile justice

Below are a few resources I used on my thesis for this topic. Sorry about formatting:
Izzo, R. L., & Ross, R. R. (1990). Meta-analysis of rehabilitation programs for juveniledelinquents: A brief report. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 17, 134-142.
Landenberger, N.A., & M. Lipsey. 2005. The positive effects of cognitive-behavioral programsfor offenders: A Meta-analysis of factors associated with effective treatment,” Journal ofExperimental Criminology, 1, 451-476.
Mason, A.W., and Windle, W. (2002). Reciprocal relations between adolescent substance useand delinquency: A longitudinal latent variable analysis. Journal of AbnormalPsychology. 111, 63–76
Pearson, F.S., Lipton, D.S., Cleland, C.M., & Yee, D.S. (2002). The effects ofbehavioral/cognitive-behavioral programs on recidivism. Crime and Delinquency, 48,476- 496.
Teplin, L., Abran, K., McClelland, G., Dulcan, M., & Mericle A. (2002). Psychiatric disorders inyouth in juvenile detention. Archives of General Psychiatry, 59, 1133-1143.
(2007). Evidence-based juvenile offender programs: Program description, quality assurance, andcost. Washington State Institute for Public policy. Retrieved July 30, 2012 fromhttp://www.wsipp.wa.gov/rptfiles/07-06-1201.pdf
Wasserman, G., McReynolds, L., Lucas, C., Fisher, P., & Santos, L. (2002). The Voice DISC-IV with incarcerated male youths: Prevalence of disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41, 314-321.
Young, D., Dembo, R., & Craig Henderson (2007). A national survey of substance abusetreatment for juvenile offenders. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 32, 255–66.

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