Outcomes for Adolescent Girls After Long-Term Residential Treatment

Residential treatment for troubled adolescents continues to generate controversy. Youth may improve during treatment, but are these gains sustained upon return to the community? We explore this question by analyzing outcome data collected at three months and one year post-discharge for 49 adolescent girls discharged from long-term programs at a residential treatment center in Massachusetts. Qualitative data reveals the range of post-discharge challenges experienced by adolescents and their families. Quantitative data shows a 77% reduction in restrictive level of care placements comparing the year before admission to the year after discharge (p <.001). This success rate suggests that improvements accomplished during long-term residential treatment are sustained by a majority of adolescent girls up to at least one year post-discharge. We will also discuss the process we used to collect outcome data and its impact on our agency staff and clientele.