Following Youth After Out-of-Home Placement: Navigating a Data Collection Obstacle Course

• NCJ Number: 238397
• Journal: Residential Treatment for Children & Youth Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Dated: January - March 2012 Pages: 32-47
• Author(s): Kess L. Ballentine, B.S.; Ashley N. Morris, B.S.; Elizabeth M. Z. Farmer, Ph.D
• Date Published: February 2012
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH057448
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study assessed youth in group homes and after discharge their discharge.

Abstract

As part of a state-wide study of group home care, approximately 500 youth were followed for 8 months after discharge from participating group homes. This article discusses challenges of such post-discharge data collection and presents methods and tools for following this highly mobile population. Methods include determining a specific sequence of protocol, designing a concise transferrable form for following youth, and holding regular meetings with all involved staff to problem-solve and develop/revise protocol. Suggestions are made for following this population by youth serving agencies as well as other researchers attempting longitudinal data collection with youth experiencing out-of-home placement. (Published Abstract)