Child-Specific Residential Treatment Evaluation Model

摘要

This report documents a 1979 - 1980 effort to develop and pilot test a model for evaluating residential treatment for children. The model presented in the report is child - specific and includes measurement of long - term goals and short - term objectives that are concrete and observable. Long - term change is measured using a standardized test or checklist, and short - term change is measured in five different program goal areas: psychosocial, academic, family, vocational, and physical functioning. Problems in the program goal areas are the major reasons why children are referred to residential treatment. These referral reasons are to be determined in conjunction with the referring worker, as are the long - term goals for the child and the estimated length of stay. Multiple measurement increases the likelihood that the change observed actually did occur. Use of time - series data permits attributing change to the treatment intervention. The model was wholly or partially tested in 8 of 30 Wisconsin institutions of child care. Reactions of six of the directors of participating institutions are presented. Their overall response was favorable; however, the directors expressed a need for technical assistance in implementing the model, in statistical analysis of the data, and in data processing. The evaluation data generated by this model will enable the institution staff to compare their performance in the current period with previous periods and will help them set goals for future performance. In addition, a model was developed though not tested, to show how to obtain meaningful program cost information to use in conjunction with evaluation data. The human services taxonomy of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services is featured in the evaluation and the cost models. Recommendations are to require and / or provide incentives for implementation of the child - specific evaluation model in child caring institutions in Wisconsin and to identify a unit within the Division of Community Services to coordinate institution - related activities and to manage the child - specific evaluation. It is also recommended that the cost model be pilot tested. Tabular data and 15 references are given. Appendices contain analysis of data from the child behavior checklist and the time - series data.