Assessing Strengths in Residential Treatment: Looking at the Whole Child

Abstract

This article outlines the importance of assessing both within-child and environmental strengths for children and adolescents admitted to residential treatment facilities (RTFs). Discussed are the theoretical underpinnings behind strength-based assessment, as well as a number of organizations and initiatives that aim at raising the bar for children's care, creating a holistic viewpoint. Assessments such as the BASC-2, ASEBA, and Vineland-II are well-established measures that have moved to meet these demands, and measures like the BERS-2, RSCA, and DESSA have an overt strengths orientation. The CASA and the DCASC are omnibus strengths measures that can be utilized to fill the "intake gap." KEYWORDS strengths assessment, residential treatment, behavior rating scale, Devereux, mental health system, DCASC, DESSA, resilience Change is afoot in the world of residential treatment of children and youth. Children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are being seen in a new light, where more responsibility is being placed within their system of care to ensure that they receive opportunities to thrive, despite the odds. More and more care providers are turning toward a child-centered system of care, which admittedly begins before a child ever sets foot in a residential treatment facility (RTF), but which unequivocally transfers to residential treatment when necessary. This "new age" way of looking at the whole child begins at intake, sticks with the child until discharge, and is a centerpiece of wraparound services.

‘There is No Mother to Take Care of You’. Views of Unaccompanied Children on Healthcare, Their Mental Health and Rearing Environment

“…education and contact with peers). However, how the children actually coped with stress remained outside the scope of this study (see Woodland, Porter, & LeBuffe, 2011).…”

Comparing Behavioral and Emotional Strengths of Students With and Without Emotional Disturbance

“…Driven by over two decades of a research on developmental assets theory, a focus on children’s emotional and behavioral strengths and child well-being has generated much interest among professionals. Advocates of strength-based assessment argue that even the most troubled and challenging children and youth possess strengths that can be tapped in the service of adaptive approaches to treatment or intervention (Buckley & Epstein, 2004; Cox, 2006; Woodland et al, 2011). There are numerous benefits to the use of SBA including a more well-rounded representation, balanced and preventive view of the child while also acknowledging both ecological and contextual variables, and their contribution to strengths and challenges.…”