Abstract
Caregivers of 210 youth receiving residential treatment (RT) or intensive family services (IFS) in Ontario were interviewed about the long term community adaptation of youth after leaving these programs. School attendance and academic functioning data at admission, discharge, and 12–18 months post-discharge were analyzed to explore predictors of school status and serious school difficulties at follow up. Youth with increased delinquent behaviors at admission were almost four times more likely to not be in school at follow up. Increased delinquent behavior at discharge was predictive of serious school difficulties at follow up. Half of RT youth and one-third of IFS youth over 16 were not in school at follow up. Transitional supports that sustain school engagement after RT or IFS are critical to the successful community adaptation of youth with mental health needs.
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Frensch, K., Cameron, G. & Preyde, M. Community Adaptation of Youth Accessing Residential Programs or a Home-Based Alternative: School Attendance and Academic Functioning. Child Youth Care Forum 38, 287–303 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-009-9083-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-009-9083-9