The Parent/Guardian Questionnaire (PGQ) is designed for administration to parents/guardians of troubled youth that have completed the ACDI-Corrections Version II. The ACDI-Corrections Version II is a stand alone juvenile assessment instrument or test that does not require the Parent/Guardian Questionnaire (PGQ) as a companion test. However, when the PGQ is used it should only be administered to parents/guardians of juveniles that have completed the ACDI-Corrections Version II

A growing number of juvenile probation officers want to better understand the juveniles home dynamics, family relationships and overall adjustment from a parent or guardians perspective. Probation officers also need to know if the information provided by the parent/guardian can be trusted. Is this information credible? Reliable? Dependable? Another important area of inquiry centers around parent/guardian and juvenile (child) perceptual similarities or differences. Do these adults and children have the same frame of reference? Are their awareness, comprehension and understanding alike or different? When communicating are the adult and child even speaking the same language? To address these needs Risk & Needs Assessment, Inc. (Risk & Needs) developed a new assessment instrument titled the "Parent/Guardian Questionnaire" (PGQ) which can be administered to one or both parents or guardians.

The Parent/Guardian Questionnaire (PGQ) is a concise screening tool that consists of 73 true false and multiple choice items that can be completed in 15 minutes. It can be administered in paper-pencil test booklet format or on the computer screen. Regardless of how the PGQ is administered all PGQ tests are computer scored with printed reports available on-site within 2 minutes. That's correct, PGQ answer input, scoring and printing of reports is done in 2 minutes.

The Parent/Guardian Questionnaire (PGQ) can be used in many diverse settings, including juvenile probation, outpatient and inpatient adolescent treatment, juvenile courts and school systems.

Openness: the Openness measure identifies denial, problem minimization and efforts o conceal the truth. In many respects Openness is another term for a Truthfulness Scale.

Family Relationships: Family relationships play an important role in a child's development. This measure assesses family relationships from the parent/guardian perspective.

Child Adjustment: The parent/guardian rates their child's emotional, behavioral and social adjustment. Parent/guardian child adjustment ratings enable comparison of parent - child perceptions, opinions and concerns.

Stress Coping Abilities: Earlier the juvenile completed the ACDI-Corrections Version II which contains the Stress Coping Abilities Scale. The PGQ contains this Stress Coping Abilities Scale but the parent/guardian is asked to complete these items while pretending to be their child. "Simulated answers" provides empathic clarity when similarities and differences are explored and discussed.

Multiple Choice Answers: Both the PGQ and the ACDI-Corrections Version II incorporate the same multiple choice items that incorporate many adjustment areas such as distress, substance abuse, gang membership, suicide-homicide ideations, desire for counseling, etc. Parents/guardians answer the same items as their child did. However, the adults answered these items as they believe their child would answer them. Comparison of child and adult answer helps clarify family communication, perceptual differences and awareness.

The Parent/Guardian Questionnaire (PGQ) is completed by the parent/guardian of troubled youth that have completed the ACDI-Corrections Version II. The PGQ consists of two sections: 1. Parent/Guardian assessment and 2. Parent/guardian simulation of some of their child's ACDI-Corrections Version II answers.

Approximately half of the PGQ is devoted to the parent/guardian. Fields of inquiry include parent/guardian openness regarding disclosure, examination of their family's relationships and the appraisal of their child's adjustment.

Two sections of the ACDI-Corrections Version II (Stress Coping Abilities and Multiple Choice items) are replicated in the PGQ. However, in the PGQ the parent/guardian is asked to answer these questions as you think your child would answer them. These "simulated" procedures provide empathic clarity and adult - child comparisons, clarifies family communication, perceptual differences and topics subject to dispute.

Staff can then help everyone involved better understand, accept each others viewpoint and discuss similarities and differences. These insights are usually big steps toward positive change.

To view an example report click here.

Additional information can be provided upon request by writing:
Behavior Data Systems, Ltd.
P.O. Box 44256
Phoenix, Arizona 85064-4256.

Our telephone number is (602) 234-3506
Our fax number is (602) 266-8227
and our e-mail address is bds@bdsltd.com.