The Role of Ecological Variables in Residential Treatment

Abstract

The importance of a supportive ecology after a child returns from residential treatment has been documented in a number of follow-up studies. This study used ratings by liaison staff in a residential treatment program to measure both personal and ecological variables at admission and discharge and investigate the relationship of those ratings to adjustment status of students 6 months after discharge. It was found that some ecological data gathered at admission were predictive of follow-up status while most personal characteristics of the student were not. Unlike earlier follow-up studies, ratings of improvement, both of the student's behavior and his ecological support, were significantly related to follow-up ratings, possibly because liaison staff had worked directly with members of students' ecologies and were aware of support and problems to be faced on return to the community. These findings seem to support the proposition that personal change and ecological change must occur together for residential treatment to be successful.