Adolescents' Well-being in Community-based Treatment Versus Residential Treatment

A Quasi-experimental Longitudinal Study of Adolescents' Well-being in Community-based Treatment Versus in a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF)

This is a quasi-experimental longitudinal study to compare the outcomes of youth in a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) compared to youth in the community-based Child-Focused Assertive Community Treatment Team [Child ACTT] program. The hypothesis is that Child ACTT will be associated with better outcomes and lower cost than PRTF among adolescents admitted to Child ACTT or PRTF.

Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) care is expensive, removes adolescents from their communities, and is not necessarily effective. Managed care organizations (MCO) are exploring other methods of providing intensive care at home. Several states (e.g., Maine, Minnesota, Florida) have initiated and maintained Youth -Assertiveness Community Treatment (ACT) programs that are adapted from the evidence-based adult ACT model. Children's Hope Alliance (CHA) has been offering the Child-Focused Assertive Community Treatment Team [Child ACTT] Program as a service for potential clients since December 2019.

RECRUITMENT PROCEDURES

1. The MCO will send a letter to PRTF treatment providers to inform them about this study.
2. CHA and the PRTFs will inform the legal guardians of children who meet the inclusion criteria about a potential study opportunity.
3. If the legal guardian verbally consents to being contacted by Outcome Referrals, Inc. (ORI) about the study, CHA or PRTF will forward the contact information for the legal guardian of the eligible participant to ORI via an encrypted email.
4. ORI will contact the legal guardian to describe the study and review the eligibility criteria with potential participants (within 5 days of treatment authorization).

Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in participating in the study will be sent electronic copies of the assent and consent forms to review and sign. ORI will inform the original referral source (CHA or specific PRTF) if the family is not able to be contacted or does not consent for study.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

A randomized controlled trial was originally selected as the study design for this project because it is the gold standard for testing for causality; however, given recruitment issues, it was decided to transition to a quasi-experimental study instead. Although the investigators cannot conclude that one treatment is more efficacious than another, this quasi-experimental longitudinal study will provide important comparative information about these two treatment options for high need youth and families.

After study assent and consent forms are received by ORI, ORI will inform the referral source (CHA or PRTF) that the family consented to participate in the study: CHA or the PRTF will provide ORI with the contact information for the case manager at the facility for each participant. ORI will send an email to the case manager to inform them of that client's participation and request a time to train them on study assessment procedures.

ORI will administer a) the electronic assents and consents through an e-signature platform, and b) study assessments to both participants and their legal guardians during and post-treatment through ORI's secure platform, WellnessCheck.net.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between the ages 12 and 18
• Has primary mental health diagnosis
• Admitted for treatment in a participating program (i.e., Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) or Child ACTT)
• A trained ORI staff member determines that the youth is able to understand and sign an assent for participation
• Documentation of the youth's assent to participate in the study
• A legal guardian provides consent for the youth to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• The client is not admitted to treatment in a participating program
• The client has dropped out of this study during a previous treatment episode
• Client does not initiate treatment