Co-Investigators: N. Trocmé, C. Laurendeau, N. Pare, & R. Calame
Funding Source: Centre for Research on Children and Families
Period: 2006-2009
The Family TIES program at Batshaw Youth and Family Centres is a unique family-centered approach to treating problems of youth aggression and family dysfunction. A study is currently underway to test feasibility and track change in the participants. Measures were administered to youth and parents both immediately before and a few weeks after the program. The ultimate goal is to identify problems that might threaten the validity of an eventual outcome study, and evaluate whether the youth and parents improve in areas targeted by this intervention. The CRCF had committed $10,000 to supporting pilot research; Batshaw provided $10,000 in matching funds, and is contributing additional funds as required. A funding proposal will be submitted to the Department of Justice in early 2010.
Aggression Replacement Training (A.R.T.) is a psycho-educational, cognitive-behavioural program for aggressive and violent youths developed by Dr. Arnold Goldstein at the Syracuse University Center for Research on Aggression. Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, a Montreal based agency providing youth protection and young offender services, has been one of the Canadian pioneers in applying the A.R.T. model, initially in its residential programs, alternative school programs, probation services and more recently with youth receiving home based services.
The A.R.T. program is usually provided through a series of structured group meetings designed to teach troubled youth how to control their anger and aggressive behaviour and to replace this behaviour with prosocial skills. The three main A.R.T. components implemented at Batshaw are:
- Anger control designed to help diminish the frequency of aggressive behaviors and to improve youth’s self-control skills in situations where their anger is aroused.
- Skillstreaming teaches youths prosocial skills leading to improved interpersonal relationships.
- Moral reasoning training is designed to help youths address cognitive distortions leading to eventually making better choices.
For more information, please contact stephen [dot] ellenbogen [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Stephen Ellenbogen)