What do you intend to do if a parent sends a kid who clearly has no problems (and if they do, is it really your place to make that decision)?
If I can convince the parent to take them home, then I would do that. If it's clear the parent is only interested in transferring the kid to another program, I'd keep them and not make a huge deal about them going to AA or therapy. I mean it would be a group home more than a program, if they had no reason to be there they would be more like a paying roommate, helping to support the kids who do need help. If you think that's wrong, well the other alternative is the parents paying an abusive program and supporting them.
What do you intend to do if a kid does not want to attend the stepcraft meetings (for whatever reason... could be he doesn't believe he has a problem... could be he doesn't believe the rubber chicken gives a damn).
There will be no physical corrections or intense emotional manipulation, so if they don't want to go they don't have to. If they'd rather stay home in the house all by themselves, they are free to do so. But they might get kind of lonely if they do that. Of course if they get into trouble while by themselves they might be asked to leave for the overall good of the house. But since they would probably be transfered to a worse place, we would try to keep that from happening.
What do you intend to do if a kid runs away or wants to run away?
I don't know what the legal obligations are in that situation. I guess call the police and have them brought back? I'd say let them go, since we only want voluntary people, but I don't know if you can do that with a minor. At the least call their parents. Maybe go looking for them if it's a small enough town.
How is this "group" of yours supposed to be set up and operate?
A circle of chairs, or even at the dinner table. Group is just time to talk to each other. The whole idea is to avoid the negative aspects of programs, so of course there would be no confrontation or any of that. Everyday courtesy will be required and if people act arrogant and intense and want to judge others they will be asked to leave or tone it down.
Is it the good old-fashioned formula of kids confronting other kids?
No. The kids can be friends and chit chat and gossip and all that, but there will not be different levels or anything like that. More like a loose knit group home with a responsible adult in charge. Kind of like the sober living house model more than anything, but for youths. The whole point is to provide a sane alternative to harsh and ineffective programs, not to duplicate them.
Just because you may know what does *not* work and what is *not* ethical doesn't mean you know what does and is.
Well, where is the harm in trying? Any kid sent to this new group home would of been sent somewhere else. So if you can make your place better than the other programs out there, which mostly involves *doing less* and having a more typical living environment than crazy cult like environment, then I don't see the harm.
Of course, I'm not actually going to do it any time soon. This is more of a thought exercise and figuring out how it would be possible, the best way to set it up, and if it actually might work in providing a good alternative to what is out there.