Abstract:
This study focused on the relationship between the community and the juvenile residential treatment center (RTC). Because RTCs are not readily accepted into a community, many such programs are forced to terminate before any rehabilitative success can be achieved. The relationship between the degree of community support and the rehabilitative success of the RTC was examined. Also, those factors which tend to contribute to community support were examined. Community support, for the purposes of this study, included the acceptance and willingness of the community to aid and/or continue the RTC. The community members under examination included the civic leaders (business leaders, civic organizations, recreational facilities, and public officials) and the general public. A sample of all members of the community was contacted to determine their degree of support
toward the RTC. The RTCs examined included seven agencies in the state of Ohio located in both urban and rural areas and servicing both male and female clients. The directors of these RTCs were asked questions directed at initial efforts, current efforts, personal contacts, relationship and involvement with civic groups and leaders and with recreational facilities and youth organizations. These responses were compared to the measurement of support obtained from two surveys administered to the community
(one to the general public and one to the civic leaders), and, again, to the measurement of the rehabilitative success the RTC had with its clients. From the interview administered to the general public it was possible to gather information of the conmmunity's specific objections or reasons for accepting the RTC program. Objections to RTCs which were
addressed during the interviews included such items as cost in tax dollars, having the RTC in the inmmediate neighborhood, and interaction of the residents in the conmmunity.
Although through statistical analysis it was shown that there is no linear relationship between conmmunity support and rehabilitative success, the fact remains that community support and involvement are important to allow the RTC to become established and remain in the community. For this reason the topic of planning a program designed
to make the public aware of and supportive of the RTC and its goals was addressed in this study. Special attention was given to those variables indicated by this research to be related to support or non-support of a RTC. Of all the variables examined, those shown to have any impact on the RTC's community support efforts were the media of
communication and the public approached (general public versus civic leaders). From the general public it was also shown that age and level of education are factors in the degree of conmmunity support a RTCreceives.
The methods a RTC uses to gain conmmunity support and to maximize involvement with community resources are as varied as the individual communities. Each agency should develop its own program to best fit its individual needs. Planning of the program is essential since, when public awareness happens by chance, it is generally through
negative or misinformed communication. It is the conclusion of this researcher that a carefully planned program in community relations could maximize the potential of any RTC.