What Is a Group Home?
This approach is sometimes used to treat teens experiencing mental health or behavioral issues.
Unlike large residential treatment facilities or psychiatric hospitals, group homes serve a small number of teens.
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Residents live in a family-like setting with trained staff.
It also explores some of the uses, advantages, and possible pitfalls of group homes for teens.
But sometimes, a residential setting is the best place for ateen who needs intensive help.
Group homes can also provide a transition from a higher level of residential care.
This process is known asdeinstitutionalization.
Usually, a teen’s goal is to eventually return home.
Clear rules and consequences are enforced by staff to create a safe environment that helps teens create positive changes.
While living in the group home, teens often earn privileges through a level system or token economy system.
Staff provide ongoing coaching and look for teaching opportunities when problems arise.
Recap
Group homes can help teens practice skills in a safe and supervised environment.
Participation infamily therapyis essential to helping the family be prepared for a teen’s return home.
Impact
Group homes offer a small therapeutic setting where each teen becomes well known to the staff.
Each teen’s individual needs can be addressed.
Group homes are often good solutions for teens who need more support.
Research suggests that teens do experience positive changes in their behavior while they are in a group home setting.
However, there is little research to suggest that these positive effects are sustained over the long term.
More research is needed to better understand the efficacy of group homes for teens.
Since they serve only a small number of teens, the costs can be quite high.
It can be difficult to find an available bed in a group home as well.
Children and teens in foster care may be placed in a group home setting.
This can be very restrictive in comparison to living with a foster family.
While group homes for teens can be helpful, they are not the right choice for every child.
James S.What works in group care?
- A structured review of treatment models for group homes and residential care.Child Youth Serv Rev.
