Supporting youth and families to prevent risky youth behavior and delinquency: An impact evaluation of a family counseling program in the Caribbean

•Parental supervision and some negativeyouth behaviors and attitudes improved.•The magnitude of youth behavior improvements was small.•Improved behaviors did not translate into reduced youth delinquency.•The YSET survey showed improvements in both treatment and control.•The YSET survey was found to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Children and youth services review 2022-11, Vol.142, p.106645, Article 106645
Main Authors: Stahlberg, Stephanie G., Díaz-Cayeros, Alberto, Pizatella-Haswell, Rachel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Behavior
Behavior problems
Caregiving
Caribbean
Clinical trials
Criminality
Delinquency
Delinquency prevention
Families & family life
Family counseling
Family therapy
Intervention
Juvenile delinquency
Prevention programs
Randomized controlled trial
Risk assessment
Risk factors
Supervision
Youth
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Summary:•Parental supervision and some negativeyouth behaviors and attitudes improved.•The magnitude of youth behavior improvements was small.•Improved behaviors did not translate into reduced youth delinquency.•The YSET survey showed improvements in both treatment and control.•The YSET survey was found to create survey fatigue and comprehension challenges. This study provides the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a family counseling intervention in the Caribbean, and one of the few RCTs on a violence and delinquency prevention program in the region. This trial studies the impact of the Family Matters program for youth aged 10–18 years old and at risk of engaging in delinquent behavior. As a result of the program, parental supervision improved and there wasareduction insome of the youths’ negativebehaviors and attitudes, but the magnitude of improvements was small: participants’ average number of risk factors decreased by only one fifth of a standard deviation. Improved behaviors did not translate into reduced youth delinquency. The findings suggest that with some adjustments to improve program targeting and address pressing family challenges, the intervention may have a more meaningful impact on caregiving practices and youth behaviors and delinquency levels.
ISSN:0190-7409
1873-7765
DOI:10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106645