ERIC Number: EJ1099512
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Jun
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-1890
EISSN: N/A
Implementation of a Program of Outcomes Research in Residential Care Settings: Outcomes for Children and Youth
Portwood, Sharon G.; Boyd, A. Suzanne; Murdock, Tamera B.
Child & Youth Care Forum, v45 n3 p393-407 Jun 2016
Background: There is a need to examine behavioral and mental health outcomes for children in out-of-home care across settings. Objective: Using a participatory research approach, researchers and agency personnel aimed to implement a program of scientific outcomes research in residential care settings. Data were used to examine children's characteristics and progress over time. It was hypothesized that children entering care with low functioning would demonstrate improvements and that children with high scores at baseline would maintain normal functioning levels. Methods: A total of 1114 youth across 37 sites in two southeastern states participated. Clinicians completed the Children's Global Assessment Scale and the teacher version of the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist at intake and at 3-, 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-up. Older youth also completed the youth self-report version of the CBCL. Using clinicians' ratings of children's functioning at intake, participating youth were categorized as high functioning, borderline, or low functioning for analysis. Results: There were no notable demographic differences among groups; however, youth in the low functioning group were more likely to be in state custody and to have had three or more placements. Data available at intake and follow-up for 990 participants demonstrated positive changes for low functioning youth, for whom clinicians' global assessments improved over time. Other positive trends were observed. At no time during care did high functioning youths' scores drop to the clinical range. Conclusions: The study hypotheses were supported, demonstrating positive outcomes overall.
Descriptors: Program Implementation, Residential Care, Residential Programs, Residential Institutions, Participatory Research, Children, Outcomes of Treatment, Child Behavior, Check Lists, Hypothesis Testing, Child Custody, Ability Grouping, Age Differences, Placement
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Child Behavior Checklist
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A