“It’s a Very Institutional Setting:” An Exploration of the Relationship between Caregivers' First Impressions of a Juvenile Residential Treatment Center (RTC) and their Engagement in Treatment

• In Event: Engaging the Family in Treatment

Abstract

Juvenile justice services have undergone a paradigm shift from youth-centered services to family-centered services. A justified shift for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, most of the knowledge about caregiver engagement, has been derived from the staff perspective. Incorporating the attitudes and feelings from the perspective of caregivers may result in a better understanding of caregiver engagement. The current study utilized qualitative and quantitative data from 112 caregivers (N=112), pertaining to their feelings and experiences surrounding the placement of their child in a residential treatment center (RTC). The qualitative variables explored include the caregivers’ first impressions of the agency itself, its staff, its services offered and the source with which they credited their first impressions. The quantitative measures of caregiver engagement included are therapeutic alliance and commitment to treatment. Negative overall impressions of the agency were very rare. A facility tour was the biggest contributor to the first impression of the agency. Most caregivers formed their first impression of staff based on the demeanor of the staff or their particular treatment by a staff member during an interaction. Caregivers mainly focused on the agency itself and its staff at the outset of treatment. Initial recommendations for caregiver engagement are presented.

Author

• Raquel Moriarty Derrick, University at Albany, SUNY