Residential Interventions for Children, Adolescents, and Families

"It is important to recognize that the mental health of children and youth is essential to their overall health. For youth with serious mental health challenges, that require residential intervention, this book provides outstanding information and resources about strategies that work. Reading this volume will help practitioners implement cutting-edge services, improve the ability to engage and empower youth and families, and lead to better outcomes and life trajectories."

—David Satcher, MD, PhD, Director, Satcher Health Leadership Institute and Poussaint-Satcher-Cosby Chair in Mental Health at Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, and 16th U.S. Surgeon General

"This practical ‘how-to’ guide is a must-own resource for anyone working with children, adolescents, and families who need intensive residential services. It provides the latest research and best practice examples on delivering effective interventions in residential settings in order to help high-need young people and their families achieve the goals of safety, permanency, and well-being."

—Bryan Samuels, Former Commissioner, Administration for Children and Families, and Executive Director, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

"For too long, residential treatment has been viewed outside of the system of care. This book turns that view on its head and promotes best practices that are truly consistent with the values and principles of a system of care, especially the message of family-drive and youth-guided care. Any parent who has needed to place their child in residential care will welcome the values and practices that are advocated in this book."

—Jane A. Walker, Executive Director, Family Run Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA)

"This readable and practically-focused volume contains an impressive array of ‘best practices’ for improving and enhancing residential interventions for youth and their families. It offers numerous creative examples of how present-day residential programs are moving their services to align with systems of care principles. These promising exemplars underscore the critical need for rigorous, empirical research to establish high-quality, evidence-based residential practices."

—James K. Whittaker, PhD, Charles O. Cressey Endowed Professor Emeritus, The University of Washington, School of Social Work, Seattle, Washington

"This book provides residential programs across the country with the research and innovative practices needed to create partnerships with families, young people, and communities that lead to long-term positive outcomes. A required read for all CEO’s, managers, and staff."

—Richard "Richie" Altman, Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Child Care Association, New York, New York

"This outstanding book shows how residential interventions can be an essential part of services and supports when delivered using the system of care values and principles. The innovations and best practices detailed in this volume will guide the field for years to come, and demonstrates how high-quality, youth- and family-driven services can improve outcomes."

—Beth A. Stroul, MEd, President, Management & Training Innovations, Mclean, Virginia

"Quality residential treatment is a critical part of a home and community-based system of care. Children who have mental health challenges and experienced significant trauma need a healing environment and relationships that help them and their families to move forward and thrive. This book serves as a critical guide to all organizations who want to embrace proven values and best practices that help all children and families have the greatest opportunities to succeed."

—Susan N. Dreyfus, President and CEO of the Alliance for Children and Families and former Secretary of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

"This book recognizes the integral role residential interventions can and should have in a comprehensive system of care. I recommend this best practice guide as a critical resource for anyone wanting to improve residential services for children, youth, and their families."

—Joy Midman, Executive Director, National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health, Washington, DC

"For years young people and champions of the residential field have looked for a way to actualize a method of including youth voice in treatment, with the ultimate goal of returning home. This book will help make that happen. It captures the field like no other product or training and gives the system champions the tools they need to succeed."

—Martin Rafferty, Executive Director, Youth M.O.V.E. Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

"As leaders in designing policies and systems for the care of young people with behavioral and emotional challenges, the authors offer a practical and comprehensive guide to improving services and outcomes. They explain how residential interventions can be successful only when the youth and families are involved in care and there are adequate supports and services in the community. This book points the way to a brighter future for youth, families, care providers, and the communities they live in."

—Linda Rosenberg, MSW, President & CEO, National Council for Behavioral Health, Washington, DC