NCJ Number
226327
Journal
Residential Treatment for Children & Youth Volume: 25 Issue: 4 Dated: 2008 Pages: 333-357
Date Published
2008
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This study examined the provision of mental health services offered in child welfare residential treatment centers (RTCs)in New York State.
Abstract
Findings from the survey study found that most agencies reported hiring direct care staff with limited formal education to work with children who present with increasing intensity and severity of emotional and behavioral problems. A behavioral management level system was the predominant model and less than one-third of the agencies reported being very satisfied with their provision of a therapeutic environment. Almost all agencies reported offering group therapy by masters-level social workers. A wide range of topics was covered but there were notable gaps. All but a few agencies reported offering family therapy. Seventy percent of the agencies employed fulltime or part-time board-certified child psychiatrists. The primary duty of psychiatrists was prescribing and monitoring psychotropic medications. Implications and limitations of this survey were reported and discussed. Youth admitted to child welfare RTC level of care are placed because of serious emotional and behavioral problems. The content and structure of the mental health services provided in RTCs is left to the discretion of each agency. The purpose of this study was to provide descriptive information regarding the types of mental health services offered, as well as the ways in which agencies believe that the delivery of such services could be improved. Thirty-seven of 43 agencies operating child welfare RTCs in New York responded to a survey about the provision of services, satisfaction with services, and suggestions for improvement in 5 areas: therapeutic environment, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and psychiatric services. Tables and references