December 16, 2002

Jocelyn Petersen at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, Sociology Department gathered data on 88 youth that have participated in the Competency Building Program at the Delinquency Services Unit of La Crosse County Department of Human Services since October of 1996. The Competency Building Program utilizes Truthought's Corrective Thinking™ Program, Charting a New Course Curriculum and Corrective Thinking™ Activity Guide for kids.

Statistics:

88 youths enrolled in the program since 1996
42% successfully completed the program
48% did not complete the program
10% are still active
38% of the youths who successfully completed the program had no further referrals or delinquent adjudication
33% of the youths who did not complete the program had no further referrals or delinquent adjudication

Interpretation and Conclusions:

An objective of the La Crosse County Delinquency Services Unit is to work youths in the context of their families and community rather than placing them in a foster home, group/treatment foster home or residential treatment. The Truthought Corrective Thinking™ program was a service offered to some participants in order to meet the objective of serving youths in the community with their families. From 1999 to 2002 alternate care expenditures had an overall decrease of $520,000.00.

The Truthought Corrective Thinking™ Model and the frequency of contact between youths and agents of change diminish the likelihood that participants will have subsequent contact with the criminal justice system