Can you help me deveolp a treatment behavioral plan for a acting out 16 yr old male residing in a group home?

Question

The male displays low self esteem, aggressive behavior towards school officials and staff, lack of motivation, lying and stealing behaviors and disrespect for those in authority. I am a human service professional and need help with developing a treatment plan. any suggestions regarding locating existing treatment plans used for this populaion of males, books, articles, computer generated treatment treatment plans, behavior modification plans and etc?

Answer 1

You are a huge optimist, trying to get a lit based solution from Yahoo Answers.
This issue probably needs two aspects of intervention. One, the increase of self efficacy in the adolescent, of which you would need to identify the SPECIFIC activites that would be optimum for the kid such as an area of potential interest for him to specialize and use as an anchor for subsequent efficacy development. I'm sorry, but the specific study I''m thinking of is a little old yet is still viable for this, Bandura & Adams 1977. Considering the field you are in, you would be well served to read his book on Self Efficacy from, 1997.
For the non-social behaviors, I can't find the study on this, which means I heard it from someone, but at the Lincoln Regional Center in Nebraska, the used behavior modification on a resident in the 70's who refused to speak for over 15 years. First identifying everything that he found rewarding from simple greetings from the staff to butter on toast, room with a window etc, then removing all of them from him and advising him that he will have to "Earn" each back. Story proceeds logically from there. You're situation probably offers less comprehensive control, and the adolescent will retaliate, which again is addressed in Bandura's later Book Social Learning Theory which you should read as well.
Fred Luthans uses behavior modification, and calls it "OBMod" which is probably where I heard the story from since I had one of his seminars. He has a good article on this, and you could use it on an individual level for your plan, or use his citations for a source for individual plans (Kreitner and Luthans, 1984)

Sorry, this isn't exactly what you need, but I think you can make a viable and sound plan with these sources.

Answer 2

I'm not a professional - and I realize i'm not answering the question that you asked- but maybe it's what you need.

I was once a 17 year old male that displayed low self esteem, aggressive behavior towards school officials and staff, lack of motivation, lying and stealing behaviors and disrespect for those in authority.
Now I am a 29 year old male that graduated college, has a job, has a wife and child and overall tries to be a good person.

Obviously he could be a very different person then me - but my experience of my problems in high school originated from:

(1) Being a rebel is just in my blood- it's in my fathers blood, and i'm pretty sure it's somehow genetic. I am very independent. I don't like to be told what to do, what to think, etc.This can be channeled into good.. by recognizing this person can be very creative since they think uniquely (think steve jobs).

(2) Teenage years are a difficult for any child since they are struggling for independence, but VERY difficult for the naturally rebelious personality as they are ready for independence much earlier. Homework did become meaningless to me, school was meaningless.. I was ready for something bigger.

School officials usualy respond by clamping down harder on these kids as they personally feel threatened that they are "losing control" over their classroom etc- instead of recognizing what this kid really need, which is freedom.

This stuggle is a cycle that both the teenager and the school officials are equally responsible for.
As a result of this struggle I acted out (stealing, fights, etc)

As soon as I was out of this system of forced conformity, I found my own way of being that was naturally productive.

Maybe you can help him with that.. or maybe like me he will have to learn the hard way.. but I am pretty sure plans that objectify his "problem" and "behavioral interventions" will definatly make him learn the hard way. You have to break the cycle somehow without clamping down.

Answer 3

there are possibly many issues that would have to be covered.
I don't think any one could actually give you a plan because their are so many circumstances with him. Things they would have to know before they could tell you. I can say that all children no matter what their age needs security, stability, and love. He may have never had any of these, thus therefore he probably doesn't trust any one to get close to him. He probably is acting out of a self conditioning that if I act this way , I am getting attention. Even if it is not the kind he should be getting, or needs.Maybe he don't know how to get positive attention. There are so many things that could be weighing in on this situation that he needs more assesments, or you may need more training.

Answer 4

Well one of the first iss ues I would look at is the reasons why he is a group home. Developmentally disabled? Foster child? Addict? I would survey his environment. Is he getting what he needs? Many times people act out in negative ways because they feel they have no other way of communicating their needs and having them met. Being 16 is tough for anybody but having that compounded by the fact that he lives in a group home has got to be evn worse. My suggestion is to look into positive behavior support (PBS). PBS looks at the current behavior and the function of it and then teaches the young person new skills. Its primary focus has been early childhood but research has shown that it can be used with any age group. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Well no wonder the kid is acting out. If his treatment plan is coming off of Yahoo Answers.

Okay this sounds a bit harsh. I am sure you have the patients best interest at heart. But perhaps you have many other options than requesting information from a open forum like this one.
Good luck,

Answer 6

You have to make him understand that his behavior is a choice that he makes. DO NOT let him tell you it's not.

We all have free will and we all have the ability to choose.

He CHOOSES to lash out. He needs to be taught how to handle things in the proper manner then he has to make the right choice on how to handle it.

Do I get mad or do I tell the councilor???