Youth and Family Participation in the Governance of Residential Treatment Facilities

Findings from two studies suggest that residential youth treatment facilities could improve family involvement in governance and outcome monitoring. Using data from Mathematica's survey, the studies assessed whether and how patients and their families participate in facilities' governance, as well as the extent to which facilities monitor outcomes after discharge. The first study found that 20 percent of facilities included youth and families in some type of governance activity, such as serving on the board of directors or participating in quality assurance. In the second study, 69 percent measured satisfaction with residential treatment after discharge; roughly half measured the use of mental health services, housing status, school performance, and/or clinical functioning after discharge.