Addressing the most damaged adolescents in the child protection system: An analysis of the profiles of young people in therapeutic residential care

Águila‐Otero, Alba; Bravo, Amaia; Santos, Iriana; Valle, Jorge F. del

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104923

Cited by 20 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…There were no significant age differences between both groups (TRC: M = 15.59, SD = 1.03; RCC: M = 15.72, SD = 1.04), although significant differences did exist with respect to sex (TRC = 65.2% males and 34% females; RCC = 44.4% males and 55.6% females) [χ 2 (1.567) = 24.59; p< .001]. As shown by previous research, TRC programs in Spain include more males than females (Águila-Otero et al, 2020).…”

Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…Similarly, other authors have emphasized serious social, educational, and behavioral issues among adolescents in TRC and greater resistance to the intervention they can be offered, possibly linked to previous therapeutic failure (Aventin et al, 2014;Martín et al, 2018). On the other hand, the group in TRC exhibits greater satisfaction with their family, something that is likely accounted for by the profiles of referrals to TRC are severe problems with inability to control their children's behavior (Águila-Otero et al, 2020) and, in these cases, there may not be any serious experiences of mistreatment or abuse that typically characterize the profiles of child care in other instances. By contrast, the effect of sex was significant for all the domains assessed, with the exception of the previous two (family and residential facility) that have been shown to be determined by the program factor.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Indeed, earlier research conducted with samples of young people in TRC has determined that the severity of the problems in females is much greater than in males, and this aspect can contribute also to explain the gender differences as girls are less frequently referred to TRC unless they have highly severe emotional problems. In a large sample of TRC, Águila-Otero et al (2020) found twice as many cases within the clinical range on the Youth Self-Report (YSR) in the females on the anxious/ depressed and social scales, as well as double the suicide attempts and need for psychiatric hospitalization. Likewise, clear differences were detected with respect to experiences related to sexuality, such as unwanted pregnancy or beginning prostitution.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These figures are particularly high in adolescents placed in TRC, describing a more complex social, educational, and behavioral profile. According to recent studies in Spain, this profile is more complex in females, revealing significantly more experiences of victimization (Fernandez-Artamendi et al, 2020) and more risk factors (Águila-Otero et al, 2020).…”

Section: Subjective Well-being and Residential Carementioning

confidence: 99%

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Subjective Well-Being of Young People in Therapeutic Residential Care from a Gender Perspective

et al. 2021

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A growing body of research focus on subjective well-being (SWB) in adolescence; however there are few studies focus specifically on the residential care population and even fewer on differences by type of residential facility separately for males and females. This study aims to analyze SWB in therapeutic residential care (a residential program created to address youths with severe emotional and behavioral problems) in relation to young people in other kinds of residential child care (RCC). 567 adolescents aged 14-18 from Therapeutic Residential Care (TRC) (n=256) and RCC (n=311) participated in the study. Results showed few significant differences concerning the residential program factor. Satisfaction with their own family was greater for young people in TRC and satisfaction, both with the groups they belong to and with their own residential facility, rated higher among the RCC group. Regarding differences by sex, females reported less SWB in all the domains including overall life satisfaction. The effect of the interaction between sex and type of residential program showed that females in TRC reported SWB, particularly low. The main implications for research and intervention will be discussed.

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Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Subjective Well-being and Residential Carementioning

confidence: 99%

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Subjective Well-Being of Young People in Therapeutic Residential Care from a Gender Perspective

et al. 2021

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“…Therefore, it is reasonable to think that the emotional distress could be the factor underlying the riskier behaviours. Based on these findings, it seems important to design, implement and evaluate specific TRC treatment programmes to better meet girls' needs and circumstances as also suggested by Águila‐Otero, Bravo, Santos and Del Valle (2020); who similarly found that girls in TRC exhibited a specific pattern of risk behaviours and mental health needs, showing greater psychological distress and a more complex profile. In this sense, no bibliographic references were found regarding girl‐intended treating programmes, because TRC has often functioned as catch‐all facilities over time, where adolescents with very diverse casuistries were fostered without having a defined profile (Jakobsen, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Treatment progress of foster care adolescents with severe behavioural problems: Factors conditioning their performance in the residential treatment centres

Sabaté‐Tomas

Roca

Arnau

2020

Child & Family Social Work

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Behavioural problems are a recurring issue in the child welfare system population. Normative residential centres do not have the characteristics to address the specific needs of these adolescents, so they are usually treated at therapeutic residential centres. In Catalonia (Spain), these cases are treated in intensive educational residential centres (CREIs), a variant of therapeutic residential care (TRC) facilities. This exploratory study seeks to understand the treatment progress of adolescents with severe behavioural problems who were placed in the CREIs, a variant of TRC facilities. Data from 206 cases, the totality of population under treatment in the CREIs, were collected using a questionnaire administered to the treating team. A cross-sectional design was used, applying quantitative methods to analyse the incidence and interrelation of a series of variables related to the progress of adolescents in the CREIs. Significant differences among profiles by sex, place of origin, criminal offences, substance abuse and mental health disorders were found. Furthermore, adolescents who performed a positive treatment progress according to the professional staff arrived at the CREI at an earlier age and had longer stays than the group with an unremarkable progress. Logistic regression indicated that duration of stay in the centre and runaways predict the adolescents' treatment progress. This treatment is working well with the milder cases; however, it does not tend to be successful for adolescents with greater difficulties. It is recommended that interventions focus on factors that engage the adolescents in their own rehabilitation process, include substance abuse programmes and consider the gender perspective.

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Assessing the Needs of Victimized Adolescents in Therapeutic Residential Care in Spain

Águila‐Otero

Fernández-Artamendi

González‐García

et al. 2022

Child Adolesc Soc Work J

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Children and adolescents in residential care often present with emotional and/or behavioral problems associated to previous adverse experiences such as abuse and neglect. Consequently, child welfare systems have developed therapeutic residential care (TRC) programs to address the most complex needs of this population. The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics of youths in TRC comparing them with those of youth in general residential care (GRC), and to detect the factors predicting referral to TRC programs. The sample consisted of 900 adolescents aged 12–17 years old (M = 15.57; SD = 1.33; 66.2% boys), from General Residential Care (n = 554) and Therapeutic Residential Care (n = 346). Profile information was collected through official files and an ad hoc questionnaire. Mental health problems were evaluated using the youth self-report (YSR). Significant sociodemographic differences were found between groups. Also, a higher frequency of emotional abuse and neglect, worse mental health, more breakdowns in child welfare measures and risk behaviors were found among adolescents in TRC. Sociodemographic and familial characteristics, features of the protective process and risk behaviors were associated to referral to TRC programs. Youths in GRC and TRC present with mental and behavioral problems that make it necessary to implement prevention programs and early detection procedures. Screening and evaluation of youth’s mental health and establishment of concrete criteria are suggested to ensure appropriate referral to the most suitable resource according to the individual needs of adolescents.

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Addressing the most damaged adolescents in the child protection system: An analysis of the profiles of young people in therapeutic residential care

Cited by 20 publications

References 49 publications

Subjective Well-Being of Young People in Therapeutic Residential Care from a Gender Perspective

Subjective Well-Being of Young People in Therapeutic Residential Care from a Gender Perspective

Treatment progress of foster care adolescents with severe behavioural problems: Factors conditioning their performance in the residential treatment centres

Assessing the Needs of Victimized Adolescents in Therapeutic Residential Care in Spain

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