Quebec Youth Centers services for adolescents with conduct problems II: Youth and families' development one year later
A limited number of studies have evaluated the reduction in youths' and families' impediments following services from the Quebec Youth Centers. Such studies would nevertheless be useful to identify potential intervention effects, as well as to ascertain if service delivery intensity is related to impediment reduction. The purpose of this study is to describe services provided to adolescents (aged 12-17) and their family during the course of a year, as well as impediment changes as a function of service delivery intensity. The sample comprised 61 youths referred for conduct problems under the Youth Protection Law (article 38H). Our results suggest there were significant changes in these adolescents' problems a year later, mainly in terms of decreased oppositional and aggressive behaviors, conduct disorders and delinquency. More modest changes in family functioning and improved parent-youth relationships were also noted. However, none of these changes were significantly related to the Youth Centers' different levels of service delivery intensity during this one-year period. Recommendations are made for future research in the field.