The Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) provides a framework for achieving positive outcomes for youth and families served in residential and community programs. Founded on core principles, an emerging evidence base, and acknowledged best practices, the BBI emphasizes collaboration and coordination between providers, families, youth, advocates, and…

This paper chronicles the exploration and development of a residential program of the child welfare authority of Renfrew County in Ontario, Canada. Recognizing that virtually its entire population of youth in care was failing to achieve positive outcomes in education, Renfrew County Family and Children Services embarked on a program development…

Several states and providers have embarked on initiatives to reduce using restraint and seclusion in residential programs. Restraint and seclusion are associated with harm to youth and staff, significant costs, reduced quality of care, and less engagement of youth and families. Successful reduction/prevention strategies have been identified,…

Much controversy exists regarding the effectiveness of residential treatment. Recently, emerging research has demonstrated that community-based residential treatment has more positive long-term outcomes for youth. This article describes a community-based program that was implemented at a residential treatment agency serving youth. Targeted…

This paper describes an effort to bridge research and practice in residential care through implementing a program model titled Children and Residential Experiences (CARE). The strategy involves consulting at all levels of the organization to guide personnel to incorporate CARE evidence-based principles into daily practice, and fostering an…

This study assessed the utility of the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI) in a child welfare sample. In this study, 97 children from ages 10 to 12 from either foster boarding homes or a residential treatment center participated. Researchers interviewed foster parents or primary therapists about children's sexual behavior, traumatic events,…

A residence program for unwed mothers and their infants is described.

This study explores variables associated with length of stay in a child welfare residential treatment center. The study followed three entry cohorts (416 boys) from admission through discharge. The researchers conducted event history analyses to examine the rates of discharge over time and the covariates of length of stay. They conducted analyses…

This article identifies some of the practical issues related to program evaluation in a residential treatment center for adolescent girls. (GO)

Describes a pilot staff development project at Christie School, a residential center with a capacity for 38 emotionally disturbed children. (RH)

Key questions in outcome evaluation involve outcomes to be measured, differentiation of institutions, and the evaluation criteria-professionally derived or community-derived. (Author/SDH)

This study aimed to determine what youth characteristics were associated with emotional and behavioral problems exhibited within the first three months of placement in residential treatment centers (RTCs) in a sample of youth from 20 agencies in 13 states. Two primary research questions were addressed: 1) What characteristics were associated with…

A group home set up as a system for improving the flow of information between teachers in a community school and the group home and then integrated the reports into the home program. Benefits of the program are described. (Author/SE)

Examines physical involvement as a therapeutic tool with acting-out children. Describes situations when physical involvement may be necessary and techniques of physical involvement. (JH)

Presents the results of a survey of 30 professionals' attitudes toward referring latency age children to residential treatment programs; how they perceive residential treatment, how they make referral decisions, and how they choose a particular setting. (Author/CM)