ROLE TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT OF ADOLESCENT DELINQUENTS: THE BERKSHIRE FARM AFTER-CARE PROGRAM

Abstract

Berkshire Industrial Farm is a residential treatment school for adolescent delinquent boys. It is situated in New York State, about twenty-five miles east of Albany and has a population of 145 boys, coming from various North Eastern States and ranging in age from twelve to seventeen years. The treatment staff includes six caseworkers, a casework supervisor, a psychologist and a psychiatrist. Individual casework, group therapy and psychodrama are included in the treatment program. In July 1957 the author of this paper was employed to administer an After-Care program for boys returning to New York City. The mission of this program was to assist boys in their adjustment to employment, school, the family and the community. The emphasis was to be on help in solving reality problems arising in the course of their adjustment and to provide them with Role Training.