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Residential care has been criticized for its high cost and limited research evidence. While recent studies and reviews of the literature suggest that a number of evidence-based practices are being implemented in residential care settings, more research is needed to develop and test empirically based practices that can be successfully implemented in residential care. In this article, we offer a promising strategy to address this issue: a long-term research partnership between a large service provider agency and a university-based research center to conduct a program of research which has resulted in translation of evidence-supported practices into service provider programs, contributions to the science of residential care, and training opportunities for young applied scientists to specialize in this important work. This evolving program of research includes four core applied research topic areas in which this collaboration has had some ongoing success: program and practice implementation fidelity, therapeutic process factors, aftercare, and psychotropic medication use. We suggest that this type of long-term collaborative research partnership is an approach for others to consider for conducting research that informs effective residential care practices.

The Teaching Family program is one of the most extensively researched models for residential care. A major meta-analysis found that the Teaching Family Model (TFM) was one of the five most consistently effective treatments for delinquents. However, two recent publications imply that behaviorally based and/or group treatments might be harmful. Moreover, studies have rarely investigated TFM outcomes for girls as well as boys. This study responds to these challenges by reporting outcomes of the Girls and Boys Town Family Home Program, a modification of the Teaching Family Model. Both boys and girls improved significantly on 16 of 17 standardized outcome scores and were functioning as well as national norms three months after discharge. This expands evidence of the Family Home Program's effectiveness to a wide range of outcomes for girls as well as boys.

Examines whether substantial increases in the positive interactional ratios of six highly disruptive adolescents would decrease their behavior problems. Results indicate that the intervention significantly decreased behavior problems in the boys as a group. Discusses findings in terms of response-contingent reinforcement and systemic behavior analyses. (RJM)

Discusses specific elements that can foster effective and abuse-free out-of-home care, increase program effectiveness, and reduce negative outcomes such as staff burnout. Elements include caregiver support, a model of care, a focus on positive behavior, a consumer orientation, training, program evaluation, and an internal program audit. (HTH)

There are three recent developments in the field of therapeutic residential care (TRC) which provide a major leap forward for new policy and practice directions. These developments further promote TRC as an essential component in the system of care for youth services. First, an international consensus statement provides a definition on what are key elements for the TRC level for the first time. Second, research reviews documenting the effectiveness of TRC practices and models provide a clear base for determining current program quality and establishing future research, program development, and policy directions. Third a public/private partnership involving providers, lead agencies, research leaders and state agencies is establishing new quality standards for out-of-home care in Florida. These standards draw on both the consensus statement and the TRC empirical base and seek to elevate the quality of individual TRC programs as well as out-of-home care statewide. We provide the experience of one agency, which is a national provider of TRC using a model of care with promising research evidence, to suggest that these three developments give practitioners, policy makers, and researchers a fresh perspective on how to fit TRC programs into an integrated continuum of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth entering residential care possess significant emotional and behavioral needs; yet, it is uncertain whether these needs have remained constant or are changing over time. This study examined mental health variables from the admission files of 1,047 youth entering residential group home care in 1995 and 2004. Sequential logistical regression analyses revealed that the mental health needs of youth admitted in 2004 were greater than those for youth in 1995 with regard to having multiple psychiatric diagnoses, being prescribed two or more psychotropic medications, and using alcohol or drugs. As such, these analyses should be replicated in other group homes as well as in other placement settings within the system of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on Hunter Rouse, a hydraulician and an important proponent to the studies relating to mechanics of fluid turbulence. Rouse received various accolades for the ideas he shared pertaining to the application of fluid mechanics theory to hydraulic engineering. When he retired from his position as the head of the Iowa Institute of Hydraulic Research (IIHR) in Iowa, he has left behind the institute his texts, his laboratory instruments he designed, the courses he created and his contribution to the development of hydraulic research institute. He authored two books on the history of hydraulics which are now recognized as the best books in hydraulic engineering. Other information relevant to the matter is presented.

This article focuses on a research which was conducted to study change over time in a variety of behavioral domains. It investigated empirically the comparability of factor loading patterns derived from a series of P-technique and one chain P-technique analyses. The same data were used in both analyses, and the factor analyses were performed with an emphasis on objectively obtained similarity of loading patterns. P-technique factor analyses of the data revealed three patterns of day-to-day variability to be common to all participants. Examination of the chain-P factors indicated that this method did not represent adequately all of these patterns.

Examines the factors of cross-person replicability from a study on the behavioral patterns of female schizophrenics. Assessment of the replicability of P-technique factors; Comparison of results related to nomothetic and to idiographic systems of psychology; Use of congruence coefficients as indices of factors matching.

A fundamental goal of the continuum of care concept is high correspondence between child dysfunction and program intrusiveness. Yet the small body of relevant research has identified major discrepancies. We used the Child Behavior Checklist to compare entry-level behavior problems of children from five child mental health programs sequenced in order of level of intrusiveness: Outpatient clinic, parent training, intensive family preservation services (IFPS), residential care, and inpatient hospitalization. Our results contrast with existing research by showing correspondence between level of child dysfunction and program intrusiveness. A possible reason for our contrasting results is that we included a larger number of mental health programs than were used in previous studies. These results are important because they reflect the continuum of care concept being put into practice and support the assertion that increasing mental health options with alternative community mental health programs increases the chances of appropriate treatment for children in trouble. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative mental health services for children such as parent training are expanding across the country. Yet the clinical picture of the children served in these programs is incomplete. In two studies we compare scores from standardized behavior problem inventories for groups of children from a parent training class with scores from groups of children from a clinic setting and a non clinic setting. In study one we used the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI), an instrument that primarily assesses externalizing problems. In study two, we used the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), an instrument that assesses both externalizing and internalizing problems. The results from both studies show the scores from the parent training groups were equivalent to scores from the clinic groups and were significantly higher than the scores from the non clinic groups. These results suggest parent training classes do serve children with clinically significant problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the implications of parenting programs for middle-income families with children having developmental, learning and behavioral problems. Longitudinal studies suggest that children in families under financial stress have higher rates of identified problem behavior. The Common Sense Parenting Program was designed to be a practical program that would be useful for parents of all socioeconomic levels. This program is an adaptation of the Boys Town Family Home Program, a well-researched approach to providing family-style residential treatment for children with significant behavior and emotional problems. The parenting program is a logical extension of this residential program designed primarily to teach child management skills for parents to use in their own homes. In the current study the program was provided to parents of both middle- and low-income groups and data were collected to measure its impact on reported child behavior problems, parent attitudes, and parent problem-solving skills.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine psychotropic medication utilization over the course of treatment for children and adolescents admitted to a large residential group-home facility for youth with emotional and behavioral disorders., Method: Retrospective analyses of psychotropic medication utilization at admission, during treatment, and at departure were examined for 1,010 children and adolescents consecutively admitted to the facility during 2001-2004. The relationship between psychotropic medication utilization and demographic variables, psychiatric diagnoses, objective measures of behavioral and emotional problems, in-program behavior, and ratings of program success were examined., Results: The overall utilization rate was 49%, and there was a significant reduction in utilization from admission (40%) to departure (26%). Reductions were evident across all medication classes (e.g., stimulants, antipsychotics, etc.). At admission, medication utilization was related to several psychosocial variables, higher scores on measures of behavioral and emotional problems, and psychiatric diagnoses (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mood disorders). A small percentage (16%) of youth was prescribed novel medication during stay. Being placed on medication during treatment was related to internalizing problems on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at admission, psychiatric diagnoses, higher rates of in-program behavior problems, and poorer outcomes at departure. Youth departing on medication were more likely to be male, younger, and rated as doing more poorly in the program. They also were more likely to be placed in more restrictive settings at follow-up., Conclusions: There was a high rate of psychotropic medication utilization among this population, though utilization rates dropped significantly over the course of treatment.