Staff Perceptions of the Work Environment in Juvenile Group Home Settings

Abstract

This study used the Prison Social Climate Survey to measure perceptions of the work environment among staff employed in all group homes administered by a state department of juvenile justice. Work environment perceptions were favorable along six dimensions and in the moderate range on a seventh. The variables that most consistently predicted staff perceptions were facility location (rural, urban, mid-size city) and whether staff had previously worked at privately operated facilities. Combined with previous research, the findings suggest that variables that are predictive of staff viewpoints in more closed settings, such as prisons and juvenile institutions, are not necessarily predictive in open, community correctional settings.

Key Words:

• Juvenile justice
• juvenile corrections
• group homes
• social climate
• staff perceptions
• work environment