Small Group Home Placement This study investigate

This study investigates the efficacy of small group home placement for special needs, psychoemotionally disturbed, and delinquent children and adolescents. In order to place the investigation in context, it is first necessary to examine the various features and characteristics of the group home setting. In this way, the understanding of the efficacy research can be more fully developed.

Therefore, this section of the paper examines several characteristics and features of group homes including: the physical setting and environment of these homes; the characteristics of children and adolescents placed in group homes; types of group homes; public and professional attitudes toward group home placement; and problems confronting group homes.

The group home, according to the Mental Disability Law Reporter (1981) is a facility providing a variety of different services for different kinds of resident populations. These populations include special needs, behaviorally and emotionally disturbed children and adolescents as well as children or adolescent delinquents or criminal offenders.

Group homes can vary in size. The small group home attempts to provide services delivered in a family context. Specifically, the small group home is legally defined as a dwelling with one or more persons living together as a single housekeeping unit which may include not more than four to six lodgers or boarders (Mental Disabilit

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these effects are not especially negative. Section Summary. In summary then, the studies examined in this section of the paper indicated that public and professional opinions toward group homes are mixed with some parents and professionals preferring the group home and others viewing it as too restrictive or unprepared to meet the needs of clients. While there is neighborhood opposition to group homes, this rarely results in removal of the homes; however, those with greater lobbying access tend to maintain opposition over longer periods of time. There are some indications that placement of a group home in a neighborhood can affect the amount of time a home stays on the market as well as the price of a home once sold; however, these effects are not especially negative. Problems With The Group Home Setting One of the greatest problems faced by group homes is staff turnover. Razza (1991) conducted research in an effort to better understand staff turnover in the group home setting. Two hundred and thirty-six direct-care staff in nine private, non-profit New Jersey agencies participated in the study. Each participant was employed in a community group home for people with mental retardation. Turnover data (stability rate)

Category: Psychology - S