Articles

The quality of life of institutions for youth

Authors

  • Yochanan Wozner Tel Aviv University, Israel
  • Miriam Golan Tel Aviv University, Israel
  • Bilha Arad-Davidson Tel Aviv University, Israel
  • Rachel Dekel Tel Aviv University, Israel

Abstract

This article presents the initial findings of the Quality of Institutional Life Measurement (QoILM), a tool designed to assess subjective evaluations of the organizational quality of institutions for children and adolescents, and of the quality of life for the residents in these institutions. The QOILM measures all possible aspects of quality, incorporating the broad range of factors relevant to experts, staff, and residents’ perceptions of institutions. This approach provides a common denominator for evaluating and comparing the vast array of types of institutions for young people. Experts and staff evaluated the organizational quality of these institutions; residents and staff evaluated the quality of life within them. Neither the experts’ and the staff's nor the residents’ and staff's evaluations of quality correlated with institutional type or other variables usually studied by policy makers and researchers. This study suggests that particular program design or institutional type by themselves do not determine success. In contrast, it is the process of development and the interactions between residents and their institutions (such as manifested in a high quality of life) that are likely to influence success.

Author Biographies

Yochanan Wozner, Tel Aviv University, Israel

Yochanan Wozner, DSW., Associate professor and Head of the Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University (TAU). and the Chairperson of ELEM - Youth in Distress. Was the director of Youth Protection Authority of Israël. He received his doctoral degree from the School of Social Welfare, UK Berkeley in 1972. He is the author of books and articles in English and Hebrew.

Miriam Golan, Tel Aviv University, Israel

Miriam Golan, Ph.D., is senior instructor at the Bob Shapell School of Social Work TAU. Served as Probation Officer for years. Received her doctorate from TAU in 1995. She has written articles and edited books in Hebrew.

Bilha Arad-Davidson, Tel Aviv University, Israel

Bilha Arad-Davidson, M.S.W., is instructor and doctoral student at the Bob Shapell School of Social Work, TAU. Graduated from TAU in 1990. Served as Child Care Officer of years. Co-author of articles in English and Hebrew.

Rachel Dekel, Tel Aviv University, Israel

Rachel Dekel, M.S.W., is research assistant and doctoral student at the Bob Shapell School of Social Work, TAU. Graduated from the Hebrew University.

Published

1997-06-01

Issue

Section

Articles