Current Research in the fields of Experiential Education

(See also JEE area under Publications.)

WHITE PAPER:  The evidence base for private therapeutic schools, residential programs, and wilderness therapy programs (2010, The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, NATSAP, www.natsap.org) (Click here for more ...)

Treating Juveniles in a Sex Offender Program Using Adventure-Based Programming: A Matched Group Design (2010)

Abstract:  Ninety-five male juvenile sex offenders in an adventure-based behavior management program (LEGACY) were matched with
male juveniles in state treatment-as-usual and other specialized programs in the same state to determine program effectiveness (as measured by rearrest rates). (Click here for more ...)

WHITE PAPTER:  The evidence base for private therapeutic schools, residential programs, and wilderness therapy programs (2010, The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs, NATSAP, www.natsap.org)

Authors
Ellen Behrens, Ph. D., Canyon Research & Consulting
John Santa, Ph. D., Montana Academy
Michael Gass, Ph. D., University of New Hampshire
Members of the Standing Research Committee of
The National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs

Conclusions
Private therapeutic schools, residential programs, and wilderness therapy programs possess a solid and growing research base. This collective body of research demonstrates that participating youth improve significantly during treatment and these improvements continue after youth return home. These findings are based on several different research programs of study: studies that were large scale, multi-center, and longitudinal, conducted by nationally recognized university researchers, and reviewed by federally recognized institutional review boards. Further research of course is needed, and encouraged, that will include a variety of control conditions aimed at refining the explanations of the powerful treatment effects that have been revealed.

Full White Paper (pdf) 
 

Treating Juveniles in a Sex Offender Program Using Adventure-Based Programming: A Matched Group Design. (2010) Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 19:20–34, 201. H. L. GILLIS, Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, Georgia, USA and MICHAEL A. GASS, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA.

Abstract:
Ninety-five male juvenile sex offenders in an adventure-based behavior management program (LEGACY) were matched with male juveniles in state treatment-as-usual and other specialized programs in the same state to determine program effectiveness (as measured by rearrest rates). The LEGACY program demonstrated significant treatment effectiveness on rearrest rates when compared with youth development centers and other specialized programs two and three years later. Overall, three-year rearrest rates for the most serious reoffenses for each of the placements were as follows: 34.8% for YDC, 32.6% for OSP, and 19% for LEGACY. Full article (pdf)