Examining treatment outcomes for Hmong American youth with delinquency problems
Author(s):
Schuster, Rachael A.
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ph.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : Indiana University, 2010.
Pages:
188
Language:
English
Abstract:
This study addresses two important problems documented in the literature: the persistence of youth delinquency problems and the lack of research on evidence-based treatments with minorities. This community-based study compares the outcomes of an evidence-based family therapy treatment and residential treatment using archival data to determine the relative effectiveness of treatments with a particular racial/ethnic minority group of juvenile offenders. The sample included 153 Hmong Americans (an Asian American subgroup). Findings indicated that Hmong American juveniles who received family therapy were significantly less likely to re-offend that those who received residential treatment. When factors including youth’s age and initial level of risk were accounted for in the analysis, results indicated no significant difference between groups in youth recidivism (i.e., rate of reoffense) or recidivism crime severity. The results of this study have important implications for decision-making about treating youth with behavior problems effectively, as well as utilizing evidence-based treatments with minority clients.