Longitudinal Family and Academic Outcomes in Residential Programs: How Students Function in Two Important Areas of Their Lives

Abstract

This paper presents academic and family outcomes from a multicenter study of youth enrolled in private residential programs. The sample of 027 adolescents, and their parents, was drawn from nine Aspen Education Group residential programs. Youth academic functioning and youth functioning within the family improved significantly during treatment and those gains were maintained, relative to admission functioning, one year after discharge. The study results suggest that academic and familial outcomes for youth in private residential treatment can be positive and lasting.

Preliminary Data from the NATSAP Research and Evaluation Network: Client Characteristics at Admission

“…When compared to other studies conducted in the private-pay residential arena, these numbers suggested the sample was a fairly representative one with respect to client gender and age. For example, found a predominantly male Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH) client population (68%) (which was argued to be similar to previous assessments of OBH), and Behrens & Satterfield (2007) found their sample of 1027 predominantly private-pay residential treatment clients were also majority male (55%).…”

“…3 Like the current sample, Behrens & Satterfield (2007) and also identified the average age of their samples as 16 years old. These findings further echo the heavy emphasis on services for high school-age adolescents found within the overall NATSAP membership (Young & Gass, 2008).…”

The Evidence Base for Private Therapeutic Schools, Residential Programs, and Wilderness Therapy Program

“…In addition, youth academic functioning and youth family relationships improved significantly during treatment. A study that followed the youth for 12 months after treatment found that the positive treatment effects were maintained (Behrens, 2007;Behrens & Satterfield, 2007).…”

Young Adults in Residential and Outdoor Behavioral Health Programs: Prelimniary Outcomes from the Practice Research Network of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs

“…The adolescent OBH and RTC research suggests that adolescents and/or their parents report significant improvement from the point of admission to the point of discharge for emotional, behavioral, academic, family, and substance abuse problems in RTC and OBH programs (Behrens, 2006;Behrens, 2011;Behrens, Santa, & Gass, 2010;Behrens & Satterfield, 2007;Bettmann, Tucker, Behrens, & Vanderloo, 2016;Russell, Gillis, & Lewis, 2008;Tucker, Norton, DeMille, & Hobson, 2016a;Tucker, Paul, Hobson, Karoff, & Gass, 2016b). Furthermore, the research suggests that adolescents maintain gains up to one year post-discharge (Behrens, 2011;Tucker et al, 2016a;Tucker, Smith, & Gass, 2014;Tucker, Zelov, & Young, 2011;Zelov, Tucker, & Javorski, 2013).…”