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This study used data from a national survey of residential treatment facilities and conducted interviews with stakeholders in systems of care that serve children and youth with serious emotional disturbances to examine the extent to which youth and families participate in the governance activities of residential treatment facilities. Twenty percent of residential treatment facilities included youth and families in some type of governance activity, such as serving on the board of directors or participating in quality assurance. Thirty-eight percent of residential treatment providers agreed that licensing or accreditation standards should require the participation of youth and families in facility governance, and these facilities were more likely to have adopted treatment practices consistent with a commitment to partnering with youth and families in the delivery of services. These practices include unrestricted visitation and allowing youth and families to select their treatment team. Residential treatment...

Drug courts have been recognized and empirically supported as an effective means of reducing recidivism and use of substances for both juveniles and adults. The paper reports the results of an outcome evaluation of a juvenile drug court in the Upper Cumberland area of Middle Tennessee. As with previous studies, the program showed impressive outcomes for many juveniles. Improvements, however, may be possible. Adding a residential component similar to the one for adults currently operated by the Davidson County Drug Court might enhance program retention, provide housing opportunities during treatment for neglected and abused youth, and offer opportunities for more regular and intensive supervision of specific juveniles. Such programs would likely be both practical and fundable, and should be considered by courts and treatment providers.

The tasks to be accomplished in the residential treatment of children are multiple and complex. The majority of these tasks rest in the collective hands of the treatment team. This article proposes an analogous relationship between the team and an effective family as they strive to provide experiences that lead to the development of competent children. An understanding of the concept of a parallel process is presented as central to the team's ability to transcend technique in fully engaging in the delivery of treatment.

This article deals with the impact of resident-inflicted injuries on residential treatment teams. It is proposed that specified factors in residential treatment may contribute to denial of a resident's assaultive potential and to acceptance of a myth of the inevitability of injury. Denial and the myth of inevitability, in turn, contribute to the development of an assault-permissive environment. A case illustration is presented with observations of team dynamics during post-assault intervention and follow-up. The author offers a list of suggestions for intervention with assault- traumatized teams and some steps for prevention or limitation of resident assaults.

A child's most important resource to achieving permanency in his living situation 1s the family system. The family must have the opportunity to make the necessary changes if the child is to return home. This paper addresses the methods used to involve parents in the treatment process that brings them into a partnership with the treatment team to work towards reunion with their child.