“Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment.” This astute observation, attributed to Dr. Kerr L. White, has daily application when supervising children in a residential treatment setting. While we should expect staff to make occasional bad decisions, they can, even though well-intentioned, still be legally defined as “child abuse.”

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “effective residential treatment programs provide:

  • “A comprehensive evaluation to assess emotional, behavioral, medical, educational, and social needs, and support these needs safely.
  • An Individualized Treatment Plan that puts into place interventions that help the child or adolescent attain these goals.
  • Individual and group therapy.
  • Psychiatric care coordinated by a child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychiatric prescriber.
  • Involvement of the child’s family or support system. Model residential programs encourage and provide opportunities for family therapy and contact through on-site visits, home passes, telephone calls and other modes of communication.
  • Nonviolent and predictable ways to help youth with emotional and behavioral issues. The use of physical punishment, manipulation or intimidation should not occur in any residential treatment program.”

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