Alternatives to RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT
WE HEAR THE MESSAGE OVER AND OVER
“WE TRIED EVERYTHING!”
Often when we speak to parents who sent their child to a residential facility, we hear the same things. Usually the parent describes their fears about the youth’s behavior. They convey the struggle they have being able to intervene. They express their frustrations that their child does not seem to listen to instructions. The parents often come with the belief – often fueled by educational consultants or others – that if the youth does not attend residential, they will end up on the streets or dead.
Residential treatment is not preventive care for imagined future behaviors.
Children live and develop in systems – familial, communal and societal. Removing a child does not aid the family in altering dysfunction or learning better methods to attune and connect. Therapeutic models require a sense of safety and connection to support healing and transformation. What is clear is that survivors of these facilities report that they lived in fear and isolation while in facilities. Removing a child does not cultivate connection.
“A model of care that disrupts relationships in favor of removing a child from their community is fundamentally flawed. As is a model which identifies a child as the primary cause of dysfunctional familial, communal, and societal systems.” -Dr. Vanessa Hughes
Here are several evidence-based alternatives to residential treatment facilities that are often bypassed when children are sent to residential care facilities by their parents or guardians.
If you are considering sending your child away, please reach out to us and request a facility report for the facility you are considering.
info@breakingcodesilence.org
Wraparound
Wraparound – Wraparound is a method of engaging with children and youth with the highest levels of mental health needs and their families so that they can live in their homes and communities and realize their dream.
Universal School-Based Prevention and Intervention Programs for Aggressive and Disruptive Behavior
Universal School-Based Prevention and Intervention Programs for Aggressive and Disruptive Behavior – Universal school-based prevention and intervention programs for aggressive and disruptive behavior target elementary, middle, and high school students in a universal setting, rather than focusing on only a select group of students, with the intention of preventing or reducing ...
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) – A treatment intervention designed to help children and their parents overcome the negative effects of traumatic life events such as child sexual or physical abuse. The program is rated Effective. The treatment group had fewer PTSD symptoms, scored lower on the internalizing behavior and total ...
Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy (TARGET)
Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy (TARGET) – This is a trauma-focused psychotherapy program for those suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program is rated Effective. Treated adults showed statistically significantly lower PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety than comparison group adults. Treated youth showed statistically significant higher levels ...
Therapeutic Approaches for Sexually Abused Children and Adolescents
Therapeutic Approaches for Sexually Abused Children and Adolescents – Interventions designed to reduce the negative effects of child sexual abuse, which can include PTSD, internalizing behaviors, and externalizing behaviors. The practice is rated Effective for reducing PTSD symptoms, internalizing behaviors, and externalizing behaviors.
The Incredible Years–Child Training Program
The Incredible Years–Child Training Program – This is a program that aims to reduce behavior problems in children and increase their social and problem-solving skills. The program is rated Effective. Treatment group children demonstrated statistically significant improvements in conduct problems, social competence, and problem-solving skills, compared with control group children, at ...
The Blues Program
The Blues Program – A school-based prevention program for adolescents with depressive symptoms or adolescents who are at risk of the onset of major depression. The program is delivered by 1 or 2 Facilitators who are familiar with cognitive-behavioral methods of prevention and treating depression. The program is delivered to groups ...
Targeted Truancy Interventions
Targeted Truancy Interventions – These interventions are designed to increase attendance for elementary and secondary school students with chronic attendance problems. The practice is rated Effective for improving attendance.
Success for All (SFA)
Success for All (SFA) – This is a schoolwide, intensive educational intervention to detect and resolve literacy problems for school children in preschool through sixth grade who are mostly in high-poverty schools. The program is rated Effective. Letter-Word recognition, Word Attack scores, and oral reading results were statistically significant for grades ...
Strong African American Families (SAAF)
Strong African American Families (SAAF) – This is a parental training and family therapy program targeted at rural African American families designed to reduce youths’ substance use and sexual activity. The program is rated Effective. SAAF group youth showed a statistically significantly less increase of alcohol use and lower levels of ...
