mporary or long-term basis, only a small proportion of this population.
There is, according to Jacobson (1992) a good deal of variation in group homes. Specifically, they can differ in size, location in communities, rehabilitative intent and in the types of populations they serve (i.e., physically disabled, mentally disabled, psychiatric, criminal/delinquent and behaviorally and emotionally disturbed populations).
According to Lesage and Morissette (1993), the typical structure of the group home is one that provides supervised 24-hour a day services by medical (usually nurses) or special education professionals and it has several functions. In some cases the small group home is a permanent residence for children and adolescents while in others it is used as a temporary way-station for the purpose of reintegrating delinquent or psychiatric patients to life outside the hospital.
Regarding the general characteristics of the group home environment, a study conducted by Degarmoe (1993) indicates that the staff working at adolescent group homes tend to be well trained. Specifically, Degarmoe surveyed 11 administrators of group homes, determining that the homes offered services that ranged from therapy/counseling to support systems to special privileges.
It was also observed that the group homes surveyed had solid orientation and training programs for their child care workers. There were also consistent educational inservice programs given to staff working in the group homes. Child care workers also had a wide variety of benefits that were offered to them by the various group homes.
While staff are well trained, serving special needs and psychoemotionally disturbed populations can be stressful. In an effort to compile a picture of the general stress levels experienced by group home staff, Rose (1993) surveyed direct care staff in three types of residential accommodation for special needs children and adolescents. Th...