A study used the Questions about Behavior Function Scale to examine the functions of five severe problem behaviors (self-injurious behavior, aggression, stereotypies, pica, and rumination) in 417 institutionalized persons with mental retardation. The most common function for all behaviors except aggression was nonsocial. Aggression was maintained…

This report describes the development and implementation of an integrated team approach for interviewing candidates for employment with a residential program that serves children (ages 10-18) with emotional disturbances and behavior disorders. The integrated interview approach was accomplished by: (1) training the supervisors to increase their…

The Small Residential Facilities Project of Teaching Research is developing residential models targeted for six populations who have been considered difficult to serve in the community. A progress report is presented on the four established programs. The Adolescent Severely Emotionally Disturbed Program consists of an apartment program, an…

Three children (ages 8, 12, and 14) with developmental disabilities and severe behavior problems were successfully trained to use self-management procedures to sustain attention to preacademic/academic tasks. A prompting ribbon (motorized red/green ribbon) was designed to help the children visually monitor time while increasing sustained…

The article compares three levels systems (with levels representing stages toward self-management) for elementary, junior and senior high, and residential programs serving behaviorally disordered students. Levels systems offer structure within which various individualized treatments are implemented. A step-by-step procedure for developing a levels…

Reviews Scottish national system of residential schools for maladjusted children. Describes history and organization of List D schools for delinquents and List G schools for emotionally/behaviorally disturbed children. Discusses differences between schools and lack of school effectiveness measures. Forecasts typical future residential schools and…

A brief training manual was developed to teach child-care workers to contingency contract with delinquent youths living in residential care facilities. Results from analogue training simulations and generalization tests indicated that workers became more proficient in contract negotiation and writing behaviors and were able to apply the skills.…

This study of risk characteristics of 100 Illinois children/adolescents with emotional/behavior disorders admitted to programs to prevent the need for residential placements found that most of the children were in single parent families; almost 85% had average or above average intelligence; and almost half were exposed to divorce, poverty,…

A study examined the traumatic events and behavior symptoms of 46 unaccompanied refugee minors waiting for placement in an asylum center in Finland. The children had experienced numerous losses, separations, persecution, and threats. About half were functioning within clinical or borderline range. Younger children had more severe psychiatric…

This practicum study implemented a training program in the teaching of social skills for 4 child care workers at a group home for 12 adolescents having moderate to severe emotional and behavioral problems. The inservice training program involved teaching concepts, techniques, and social skills terminology during the first four sessions, with…

This issue of "Residential Group Care Quarterly" contains the following articles: (1) "Instrument for Assessing Behavioral Change" (David Colton); (2) "Comfort Rooms: Reducing the Need for Seclusion and Restraint" (Gayle Bluebird); (3) "Child Care Workers First in North Carolina to be Certified" (BCH Communications); and (4) "Should residential…

Evaluation of treatment acceptability was conducted with 78 staff members at a community-based residential facility for youth with severe behavior disorders and mental retardation, where the institutional treatment philosophy was explicitly behavioral. Unlike a previous study, in this setting acceptability ratings were not influenced by severity…

A study examined the long-term (3 year) treatment outcomes of all adolescents (n=2,481) who received services in Vermont's statewide systems of care. Recipients of services had substantially elevated rates of incarceration and hospitalization but maternity rates in the treatment groups were not different from other young women. (Contains…

This research study compared the efficacy of two treatment methodologies for adolescent males in residential treatment with conduct disorders and/or personality dysfunctions and documented problems with physical and sexual aggression. The results showed that Mode Deactivation Therapy, an advanced form of cognitive behavioral therapy based on…

This treatment research study extended the results of Apsche, Bass, Jennings, Murphy, Hunter, and Siv (2005), from behavioral data to standard measures of psychological distress. In Apsche, et. al. (2005) results suggest that Mode Deactivation Therapy (MDT) was more effective than Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Social Skills Therapy (SST) in…