engleski

Perspective of Proffesionals on the Potentials and Problems of Children and Youth at Risk

Comprehensive scientific research is being conducted on the level of Croatia, which is partly directed to validation and standardization of instruments for assessment of risks levels and intervention needs of children and youth in risk or with behaviour disorders. Three instruments are being used: YLS/CMI (Youth Level of Service / Case Management Inventory, Hoge, Andrews and Leschied, 2002, RFQ (Risk Factor Questionnaire, Scholte, 1998) and CBCL (Child Behavior Checklist, Achenbach, 1991). Topic of this presentation is related to Child Behaviour Checklist (Achenbach, 1991). This instrument consists of two parts: the first part is oriented on assessment of competences and the second part is related to the child behaviour checklist. As a part of the assessment of competences, informants (in this case professionals who work with children and youth) have to describe child's best sides and facts about child that worries them the most. This presentation in based upon the analysis of two open-end variables «Describe best things about this child» and “Things that worries me about this child”. On the total sample of 998 children and youth in risk, who were at the time of research, involved in institutional or community treatment in Republic Croatia, 757 descriptions of best things/ characteristics of children/ youth and 846 descriptions of things that professionals are worried about, were extracted. Descriptions are then processed in qualitative data analysis. Preliminary results show that professionals recognize both positive and negative (worrisome) things in almost every child/ youth and that they describe them very extensively. Data analysis also shows that professionals tend to describe more negative things (problems and worries) than positive. The most problems and worries perceived by professionals are connected to inadequate family relations, risk behaviour and aggressions. When describing positive things, professionals mostly recognize warm personality, good social skills and willingness to change. Insight in the best characteristics of children and youth in risk and their problems has a very high importance in process of planning, programming and successful implementation of interventions.

potentials; problems; children / youth at risk; professionals

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