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In this multilevel meta-analysis the outcomes of adolescents with complex problems at risk for school drop-out attending nonresidential alternative educational facilities were examined. Ten studies (87 effect sizes), examining outcomes on social-emotional functioning, academic achievement, academic attitude, externalizing and internalizing problems, were included. The findings indicated a small but significant overall effect (d = 0.15, p = 0.03), providing preliminary evidence that these facilities may be associated with positive outcomes for adolescents. Study quality, measurement type and reliability of the assessment instruments were significant moderators of the overall effect size. Results of this study urge for more high quality research on nonresidential alternative educational facilities, because they can contribute to positive youth outcomes, which in turn may prevent school drop-out and other negative life outcomes.

Youth justice settings should provide safe, therapeutic environments, tailored to young people's needs. Current custodial models rarely meet these aims, mainly because a focus on security tends to outweigh an emphasis on care, diminishing rather than encouraging young people's positive development. This article reports on a three-year evaluation of youth justice reforms in the Netherlands, including small-scale, community-embedded facilities with an emphasis on relational security. We outline key operational elements and conditions for implementation of these facilities to provide guidance for youth justice professionals, and for managers and policymakers seeking to promote political and financial investments in effective youth justice strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seclusion can be harmful for children and adolescents. Hence, all locations for secure residential youth care in the Netherlands are committed to reduce its use by implementing monitoring and feedback as a seclusion reduction intervention. This study examined change over time in the use of seclusion in secure residential youth care in the Netherlands using a broad conceptualization of seclusion and by analyzing four variables (frequency, duration, room, reason). During two six months periods, seclusions were registered in 19 locations. Every month, all locations received feedback on the use of seclusion. Negative binomial mixed model analyses were used to investigate change over time in frequency and duration of seclusion. Logistic mixed model analyses were used to identify change over time in reason for use and type of room used for seclusion. Results showed that seclusion frequency significantly decreased (RR = 0.92, p <.001). Further, duration of placement in a seclusion room significantly increased (RR = 1.04, p <.001). This change was only significant in seclusion in response to aggression (RR = 1.06, p <.001). The results emphasize the need for future studies to examine reduction using a broad conceptualization of seclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]