Assessment in Residential Care for Children and Youth

This book provides practical information on the placement of children in residential care programs, the efficacy of those programs, staff issues, and outcomes for youths in the programs.

Residential treatment for children and youth (RTCY) programs not only need to be explored for the efficacy of the programs, but also in the actual assessment of various aspects of those programs. Assessment in Residential Care for Children and Youth provides practical information on the placement of children in residential care programs, the efficacy of those programs, staff issues, and outcomes for youths in the programs. Respected authorities examine issues on assessment upon entering residential care, treatment issues during care, and programmatic concerns from a larger systems perspective.

Unlike other resources on this topic, this book uniquely focuses solely on assessment. The book comprehensively offers strategies and practical assessment tools addressing the full spectrum of issues from the child’s or youth’s entrance in residential care to their exit, such as placement, treatment, and outcomes. This valuable text is extensively referenced and includes helpful figures and tables to clearly present data.

Topics discussed include:

• assessment processes and tools to enhance therapeutic childcare interventions
• the unique needs of GBL youth in residential care settings
• a strengths-based assessment tool developed specifically for use in juvenile justice programs
• staff satisfaction rates as compared to client satisfaction
• development of the Staff Implementation Observation Form that assesses staff competence delivering an intervention to youth in group home care with behavioral disorders
• differences in two residential care giving models in providing continuity of care for youth in residential placement
• an assessment technique that uses the point of view of children.

This book is a valuable resource for Residential Administrators, program directors and coordinators, counselors, and staff who have a role in assessing residential treatment programs for children and youth at any level.

This book was published as a special issue of Residential Treatment for Children and Youth.