Children with ADHD in Residential Care

Abstract

Little is known about the characteristics or functioning of children with ADHD in residential care as compared to their non-ADHD peers. This study evaluated data on 538 children with (n = 125) and without (n = 413) ADHD in residential care to determine demographic, mental health, behavioral, and treatment (i.e., medication use) characteristics. Results revealed that both groups presented elevated risks, however, scores for children with ADHD indicated even greater levels of need. Specifically, differences were found between the two groups on demographics (e.g., family reunification status, restrictiveness of prior out-of-home placements), behavior (e.g., attention problems, rule-breaking and aggressive behaviors) and medication status. Findings suggest there is a need for aftercare services to help support families as children transition from care, interventions to address behavior, and medication management through assessment and monitoring.

Risk Profiles of Children Entering Residential Care: A Cluster Analysis

“…These finding suggest these children are the ''stereotypical'' residential care children. They present externalizing behavior and mental health problems (i.e., increased levels) as would be expected according to previous studies (see Cameron and Guterman 2007;Casey et al 2008;Trout et al 2008a, b).…”

“…Children with problems with substance abuse were found to present higher suicide risk and increased delinquency (Weiner et al 2001). Children with high-incidence disabilities experienced greater deficits in academic achievement and social problems ), and children with ADHD were more likely to be on medication and to present higher levels of rule-breaking behaviors and aggression (Casey et al 2008). Finally, children at-risk for language impairments were found to present academic scores one or more standard deviations below their same-aged not at-risk peers (Hagaman et al 2009).…”

“…Children in residential care are a heterogeneous population who enter care with various combinations of risk (Casey et al 2008;Trout et al 2009). While the combinations of risk may be diverse, these children also present many commonalities.…”

“…For example, there are differences between males and females (Connor et al 2004;Handwerk et al 2006;Hussey and Guo 2002), children with and without problems with substance abuse (Weiner et al 2001), children with and without disability diagnoses (Casey et al 2008;Trout et al in press), and children with and without risk for language impairment (Hagaman et al 2009). In each study, different patterns of risk were identified.…”

Who Goes Where? Exploring Factors Related to Placement Among Group Homes

“…Relatively high rates and levels of behavior problems are also common among youth in residential placements (Breland-Noble et al, 2005; Connor, Doerfler, Toscano, Volungis, & Steingard, 2004; Farmer, Mustillo, Burns, & Holden, 2008; Lyons, Libman-Mintzer, Kieiel, & Shallcross, 1998). However, data also suggest substantial heterogeneity of youth served in group settings (Casey et al, 2008; Trout et al, 2009). In studies that have compared youth in group residential placements with youth in other out-of-home settings, it is unclear whether youth in group settings have more severe problems than youth in other out-of-home placements (e.g., treatment foster care, foster care; Baker, Wulczyn, & Dale, 2005; Breland-Noble et al, 2005).…”