Suchergebnisse

AbstractWe must build bridges–not walls–between the mental health system and the providers of residential community care.

For a variety of reasons, many families decide to place their handicapped son or daughter in a community residential facility. Child-related characteristics may play an important role in that decision. A retrospective research methodology was employed to examine selected characteristics of an intact sample of 56 young children with severe handicaps who resided in community residential facilities. Biological risk status was used as a blocking variable, along with sex, type of facility, and reason for placement. Children were compared for age at time of placement in the community. Results of analysis of variance (ANOVA), analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and chi-square analyses revealed that (a) risk status, facility, and reason were significantly related to early placement in the community; (b) sex of the child did not appear to influence time of placement; and (c) children with greater caretaking/medical involvement did not appear to be placed in the community earlier than other children with severe handicaps in this sample. Limitations of this study and directions for future research are discussed.

This article examines coping strategies used by students in high-density living. It uses the questionnaire survey method in 20 university halls-of-residence in southwestern Nigeria. The study focused on students' cognitive responses to the bedroom, the coping strategies that they used, gender differences in coping styles, and the influence of their length of stay. The results showed that the respondents perceived living conditions as stressful and that they used nine coping strategies to various degrees. The types of strategies used were related to their responses and to their perceived alternatives. The major coping strategies used were studying away from the room and decorating personal space. Females appeared to make more use of territorial strategies whereas males appeared to use withdrawal strategies more often. Length of stay did not appear to be important except with respect to studying and entertaining friends. Finally, territorial defining strategies were shown to be critical in this high-density situation.

The health problems of 160 adolescents in four residential facilities of the Quebec social welfare court were studied. At the time of admission 44% had at least one problem requiring consultation with a specialist and 80% had an average of two problems requiring primary care. The medical records of 106 youngsters in two re-education centres were also reviewed and similar results were noted. The health services available, particularly physical examination and laboratory testing at the time of admission and arrangements for referral and follow-up were judged to be insufficient in most centres. Although society has taken custody of these adolescents, no one is responsible for their health care. Since February 1976 the social welfare court residential facilities and the network involved in the care of socially disturbed youngsters have been undergoing reorganization. Health programs and services ought to be part of this reorganization, and private physicians, hospitals and government each should have a role in the establishment and functioning of these programs.

A brief history of institutional care for juveniles -- A profile of youth in juvenile residential correctional facilities -- Managerial styles and institutional control -- Why mission is important -- How institutional management fulfills the mission-administrator's duties -- The administrator's role in treatment -- The administrator's role in building positive culture -- Staff training -- Models of institutional care