Parenting a Child in Residential Treatment: Mother's Perceptions of Programming Needs

The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences and perspectives of mothers with children in residential treatment (RT) regarding parenting, discharge planning, and home-based safety. One-hour interviews were conducted over the phone with 15 mothers. Transcripts were analyzed using a content analysis approach. Three themes were generated including parenting a child in RT, unprepared for discharge, and crisis intervention in the home. This study contributes insight into the lives of an underserved population with implications to inform future research interventions and clinical guidelines to address the needs of families with children in RT.