Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Provider Perspectives on Outcome Goals for Children's Day Treatment

  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

I describe service provider perspectives regarding outcome goals of children's day treatment and their ideas for how to make day treatment programs successful in achieving stated outcomes. Respondents were direct service staff from ten day treatment programs in one county in Washington state. Data were obtained through nominal group process methods. The primary outcome goals of day treatment reported were: community re-integration, improved adaptive functioning skills, psychological growth, and improved family functioning. Aspects of day treatment that may help achieve outcome targets included: team quality; comprehensive programming; a consistent, safe, accepting program environment; an individualized, developmental approach; linkages with other services; family involvement, and a low staff-to-client ratio. Outcome goals are discussed relative to those described within the research literature on children's mental health services. Implications for the use of outcome goals for quality improvement are described.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Armstrong, M., Huz S., & Evans, M. (1992). What works for whom: The design and evaluation of children's mental health services. Social Work Research and Abstracts, 28, 35–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bickman, L., Heflinger, C., Pion, G., & Behar, L. (1992). Evaluation planning for an innovative children's mental health system. Clinical Psychology Review, 12, 853–865.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breda, C. (1996). Methodological issues in evaluating mental health outcomes of a children's mental health managed care demonstration. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 23, 40–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burlingame, G., Lambert, M., Reisinger, C., Neff, W., & Mosier, B. (1995). Pragmatics of tracking mental health outcomes in a managed care setting. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 22, 226–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeChillo, N., Koren, P., & Schultze, K. (1994). From paternalism to partnership: Family and professional collaboration in children's mental health. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 64, 564–576.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, M., Armstrong, M., Thompson, F., & Lee, J. (1994). Assessing the outcomes of parent-and provider-designed systems of care for children with emotional and behavioral disorders. Psychiatric Quarterly, 65, 257–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabry, B., Hawkins, R., & Luster, W. (1994). Monitoring outcomes of services to children and youths with severe emotional disorders: An economical follow-up procedure for mental health and child care agencies. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 21, 271–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabel, S., Swanson, A., & Shindledecker, R. (1990). Outcome in children's day treatment: Relationship to preadmission variables. International Journal of Partial Hospitalization, 6, 129–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goonan, K. (1995). The Juran prescription: Clinical quality management. San Fransisco, Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grizenko, N., Papineau, D., & Sayegh, L. (1993). Effectiveness of a multimodal day treatment program for children with disruptive behavior problems. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 32(1), 127–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heflinger, C., Sonnichsen, S., & Brannan, A. (1996). Parent satisfaction with children's mental health services in a children's mental health managed care demonstration. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 23, 69–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman, S., Marcenko, M., & Hazel, K. (1996). Parents' perspectives on quality in family support programs. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 23, 156–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoagwood, K., Jensen, P., Petti, T., & Burns, B. (1996). Outcomes of mental health care for children and adolescents: I. A comprehensive conceptual model. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35, 1055–1063.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodges, K., & Wong, M. (1996). Psychometric characteristics of a multidimensional measure to assess impairment: The Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 5, 445–467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, R. (1990). Towards a system of outcome indicators for mental health care. British Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 500–514.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, P., Hoagwood, K., & Petti, T. (1996). Outcomes of mental health care for children and adolescents II: Literature review and application of a comprehensive model. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35, 1064–1077.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kagan, S., & Weissbourd, B. (1994). Putting families first: America's family support movement and the challenge of change. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiser, L., Nunn, W., Millsap, P., Heston, J., McDonald, J., Trapp, C., & Pruitt, D. (1988). Child and adolescent day treatment: Population profile. International Journal of Partial Hospitalization, 5, 287–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiser, L., Pruitt, D., McColgan, E., & Ackerman, B. (1986). A survey of child and adolescent day-treatment programs: Establishing definitions and standards. International Journal of Partial Hospitalization, 3, 247–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kotsopoulos, S., Walker, S., Beggs, K., & Jones, B. (1996). A clinical and academic outcome study of children attending day treatment program. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 41, 371–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutash, K. (1995) Effectiveness of children's mental health services: A review of the literature. Education and Treatment of Children, 18, 443–475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, E., & Guthrie, P. (1996). Clinical outcomes of a children's mental health managed care demonstration. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 23, 51–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemoine, R., & Carney, A. (1984). The Louisiana mental health client-outcome evaluation project: An initial progress report. Community Mental Health Journal, 20, 90–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulvey, E., & Pieffer, M. (1993). A comparison of perceptions regarding the process of institutional placement. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 20, 254–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neffinger, G. (1981). Partial hospitalization: An overview. Journal of Community Psychology, 9, 262–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, F., Hunter, R., & Irving, D. (1987). Simple measures of progress and outcome in the evaluation of mental health services. Evaluation and Program Planning, 10, 209–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plante, T., Couchman, C., & Diaz, A. (1995). Measuring treatment outcome and client satisfaction among children and families. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 22, 261–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rago, W., & Reid, W. (1991). Total quality management strategies in mental health systems. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 18, 253–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblatt, A., & Attkisson, C. (1993). Assessing outcomes for sufferers of severe mental disorder: A conceptual framework and review. Evaluation and Program Planning, 16, 347–363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sayegh, L., & Grizenko, N. (1991). Studies of the effectiveness of day treatment programs for children. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 36, 246–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer, D., Gould, M., Brasic, J., Ambrosini, P., Fisher, P., Bird, H., and Aluwahlia, S. (1983). A Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). Archives of General Psychiatry, 40, 1228–1231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srebnik, D., Hendryx, M., Stevenson, J., Caverly, S., Dyck, D., & Cauce, A. (1997). Development of outcome indiators for monitoring quality in public mental health. Psychiatric Services, 48, 903–909.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stafford, B., & Stafford, L. (1991). The building blocks of a quality day treatment program: The needs assessment. International Journal of Partial Hospitalization, 7, 161–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Topp, D. (1991). Beyond the continuum of care: Conceptualizing day treatment for children and youth. Community Mental Health Journal, 27, 105–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ware, J. Jr. (1989): Measuring health and functional status in mental health services research. In: Taube CA, Mechanic D, Hohmann A (Eds.). The future of mental health services research, DHHS Pub No. (ADM) 89–1600. Rockville, MD: National Institute of Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waugh, T., & Kjos, D. (1992). Parental involvement and the effectiveness of an adolescent day treatment program. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 21, 487–497.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimet, S. (1988). An American's perspective on day-treatment programs for children in England. International Journal of Partial Hospitalization, 5, 19–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimet, S. & Farley, G. (1985). Day treatment for children in the United States. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 24, 732–738.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

    Debra Srebnik (Assistant Professor)

Authors
  1. Debra Srebnik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Debra Srebnik.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Srebnik, D. Provider Perspectives on Outcome Goals for Children's Day Treatment. Journal of Child and Family Studies 8, 397–408 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021995502551

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021995502551

Search

Navigation