Hidden Figures: Is Improving Family Functioning a Key to Better Treatment Outcomes for Seriously Mentally Ill Children?

Abstract

ABSTRACTResidential treatment is typically reserved for children with the most serious mental health issues. Previous research has identified an association between better family functioning and positive treatment outcomes among children placed into residential care. This study attempted to replicate and expand upon these findings by examining outcomes among 18,046 children and adolescents placed into residential treatment programs in the United States located in the state of Indiana. As predicted, numerous treatment outcomes again were found to be highly associated with the level of the child’s family functioning including successful discharge, successful discharge by level of care, restrictiveness of discharge environment, behavioral improvements over the course of treatment, and client functioning at discharge. The results of this study once again provide evidence that children from low functioning families should be identified at the time of referral (the “Hidden Figures”) and that they do better when placed in higher level, more intensive programs. Additionally, the probability of a successful discharge increases if family functioning can be improved over the course of treatment. Overall, these data provide further evidence that suggests improving family functioning is a key ingredient for improving children’s mental health.