Adult visitation and permanency for children following residential treatment

a r t i c l e i n f o The absence of parents for foster children in residential treatment undermines the known positive effects of parental visits during treatment on children's permanency. To date, little attention has been given to the scope and role of visitation by non-parental adults. This study utilized clinical data from a residential treatment center for children to examine the patterns of adult visitation during treatment and their effects on children's permanency at and 6 months following discharge. Different types of relationships including parents, extended family and non-family adults, and various measures of visitation, such as frequency and regularity of visits, were included in descriptive and logistic regression analyses. Results showed that while children had the most number of visits from parents compared to other visitors, non-family visitors were just as likely to visit regularly. Logistic regression analysis indicated that having parent visitors only as opposed to having parents and other visitors was positively associated with permanency at and 6 months after discharge. In addition, controlling for composition of visitors and age at discharge, more visits by non-family increased the likelihood of permanency. Implications for practice and theory are discussed. Residential treatment centers provide 24-hour care and mental health services for foster children with serious behavioral and emotional needs. The final phase of treatment involves assisting children to discharge into permanent homes. While there is evidence that parental involvement and contact during treatment help children to achieve permanency (Landsman, Groza, Tyler, & Malone, 2001), only a small proportion of children in residential treatment have parents who are willing or are capable of getting involved. To date, little is known about the relationship between children's contact with other adults including non-family during treatment and permanency outcomes. Thus, this study examined patterns of adult visitation during residential treatment and their relationship to permanency. 1.1. Residential treatment centers and permanency Despite the national trend toward deinstitutionalization, residential treatment centers continue to serve a large number of children in the foster care system with mental health needs. Nationally, close to 10% of youth in the foster care system are in institutional settings (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009). As a form of group care, residential treatment centers are designed to provide highly structured, intensive services that family-based foster care cannot offer. Treatment components include individual therapy, family therapy, and group recreation programs among others. An integral …