According to the American Association of Children's Residential Centers, or AACRC, residential facilities offer programs designed to serve adolescents with serious behavioral or emotional disorders. Residential centers assess an adolescent's treatment needs and will typically design a treatment plan that will stabilize the client and allow him to be reunited with his family.
Significance
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, notes that both publicly and privately managed residential facilities exist throughout the United States. The number of adolescents living in residential facilities has increased greatly over the past two decades, and patients who are served in these facilities often suffer from disruptive disorders and mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety.
Features
Sources at SAMHSA note that residential treatment facilities for adolescents focus may vary widely in their staffing requirements and accreditation. All facilities must be licensed and regulated by their respective state agencies. The requirements for licensing vary among states, and very few states require that facilities have national accreditation. As a result, the staffing, programming, and therapeutic services offered in residential treatment centers can be highly variable. Families of adolescent clients should familiarize themselves with the options and programs in their community or state.
Time Frame
Sources at SAMHSA note that that the time frame for residential treatment may be highly variable on the needs of the individual client. Some clients may stay in in treatment for less than 30 days, while others with serious mental health issues may require on-going residential treatment. Families should familiarize themselves with their teen's diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis in order to understand the expected duration of treament.
Considerations
According to sources at AACRC, families may often have little choice as to where an individual client receives treatment. Youth may be assigned to public residential treatment through social services or the judicial system, and in these cases, local or state authorities may make the decision about where the youth will be treated. AACRC notes that families should stay actively involved in their teen's treatment. Parents who are considering private residential placement for a teen should also consider the cost of the program, insurance coverage, and the center's educational and treatment services.
Expert Insight
Sources at AACRC note that residential treatment facilities can vary widely in their treatment options and services. Parents should ensure that their teen has a thorough and appropriate diagnosis and that the residential treatment center can provide the services the teen needs. For example, some teens may have substance abuse issues, and may need assistance with medical detoxification. Adolescents with mood disorders such a depression or anxiety may need to be treated with medication and specialized psychiatric care. Teens being treated for conduct disorders or violent behavior may need specialized facilities that can ensure their safety and the proper treatment for these behaviors. The facility should be able to provide the necessary treatment to address the specific emotional and mental health needs of the client.
