engleski

Defining Standards: a Step towards Evidence-based Practice for Children and Youth with Behavioral Disorders

The screening and evaluation of preventive and treatment programs was for the first time made in Croatia during the year 2002. Programs created and applied by different public institutions and NGO-s as the alternative interventions to the traditional, legal measures for the protection of children and youth with behavioral problems were included with the purpose to recognize „ model programs“ . Data were collected for 239 programs. A simple, ad-hock concept of building standards of good practice was developed. Fourteen „ potential model programs” which met more than half of defined standards were selected. Standards of good practice / programs were organized at three levels. Professional values and principals were considered as the first level consisting of four specific standards (for example: program is using needs assessment as the bases for intervening). The second level included twelve standards on the conceptual level (for example: program is supporting school and family). Program framework dimensions were recognized as the third level standards (for example: program is using clear mechanisms of user's identification and selection) In year 2002 we did not find any programs fulfilling all standards. Five years later (2007), we made re-evaluation with the aim to find out if there is any developmental progress. The paper present comparison of those two evaluations.

standards of good practice; potential model programs; children and youth with behavioral disorders

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