Family Involvement in Residential Treatment: Staff, Parent, and Adolescent Perspectives

We conducted interviews with staff members, parents, and adolescents at a residential treatment center to examine the frequency, nature, and satisfaction with contact between parents and adolescents and parents and staff. We also assessed perceived barriers to family involvement and possible solutions for improving this involvement. Results indicated that there is more contact between parents and adolescents than in previous studies. In addition, contact between parents and staff occurred frequently, although there were discrepancies regarding their reasons for the contact. Most parents and adolescents reported that the amount of contact was adequate, but the majority of staff members perceived there to be not enough contact. Adolescents reported that there was not enough contact with secondary sources of support, most often other family members. Barriers to family involvement included transportation, parent responsibilities and personal problems, and legal issues. In addition, parents reported that strained family relationships and problematic adolescent behavior interfered with their involvement. The need for residential treatment centers to broaden services to include parents as well as members of the larger support network is discussed.