Reading Intervention Research with Court-Placed Youth

• In Event: Roundtable: Reading Intervention Research with Court-Placed Youth

Abstract

This paper describes the rationale and implementation of a 3-year randomized control trial funded by the National Institute of Justice. This project is in year 1 of the study timeline. The aim of the study is to determine efficacy of a targeted program to improve reading skills and literacy, including its impact on recidivism. Participants are youth placed by the courts (typically a probation department) into a residential treatment facility. Youth are eligible for the study if they have low reading skills as measured by individually administered achievement tests as part of study screening procedures. There are several key reasons academic achievement is important to juvenile justice. This paper will highlight the reasons for addressing academic needs of youth in juvenile justice settings. The authors will also discuss the common barriers to research of this nature and some ways we have overcome these barriers. This project is an example of a researcher-practitioner partnership and the elements of making this collaboration successful will be shared in this paper discussion.

Authors

• Janay B. Sander, Ball State University

• Ruth E. Jefferson, Ball State University

• Lindsay K. Rye, Ball State University

• Leslie Miller, Youth Opportunity Center

• R. Nicole Eubank, Youth Opportunity Center