ENHANCING SCREENING FOR CHILD AND YOUTH CARE WORK WITH PROBLEM-SPECIFIC MEASURES - AN EXAMPLE WITH BIG-BROTHERS BIG-SISTERS VOLUNTEERS

Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BB/BS) organizations attempt to identify pos itive role models for youth. Agencies utilize lengthy personality inve ntories to screen their applicants. However,these measures lack specif ic scales to assess many detrimental volunteer characteristics (pedoph ilia and child abuse potential, drug and alcohol problems, interperson al shortcomings, and emotional instabilities). Several brief, problem- specific scales designed to assess these qualities could effectively s upplement BB/BS screening programs.