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Topic: Behavioral Management for Adolescents in Child Welfare

Scientific Ratings in this topic:
1 - Well-Supported by Research Evidence
2 - Supported by Research Evidence
3 - Promising Research Evidence
4 - Evidence Fails to Demonstrate Effect
5 - Concerning Practice
NR - Not able to be Rated
Learn more about the scale

Definition for Behavioral Management for Adolescents in Child Welfare:

This topic area focuses on programs that help manage the behavior of adolescents in the Child Welfare system. Behaviors targeted include general disruptive behaviors (e.g., arguing and back talk), delinquent behaviors (e.g., petty theft and vandalism), truancy, and running away from out-of-home placements (commonly called being AWOL). In essence, these are the behaviors that may lead to a foster caregiver or group home asking the social worker to find a different placement for the child that is exhibiting these behaviors. Programs may work directly with youth and families, or train caregivers and staff on ways to handle behavior problems more effectively. Studies have shown that youth involved with child welfare have higher than average rates of behavior problems in general, and are more likely to exhibit externalizing behaviors. Among youth in foster care, at least one study has shown that rates of delinquent and aggressive behavior were twice as high as those in the general youth population. Behavior programs among adolescents involved in child welfare are both a cause and a consequence of placement changes, often leading to multiple placements changes and movement to higher levels of care. By addressing these problem behaviors, and de-escalating difficult situations when they do arise, youth can be maintained safely and stably in the lowest level of care needed.

Why was Behavioral Management for Adolescents in Child Welfare chosen as a topic by the Advisory Committee? (Click for Answer)

The CEBC Advisory Committee chose Behavioral Management for Adolescents in Child Welfare as a topic area because behavioral problems in adolescents are a challenge that frontline child welfare workers face on a regular basis. Child welfare workers want to know effective ways to help these minors who, in some cases, are leaving placements and running away. These youth are leaving the foster care system emotionally and educationally unprepared for adulthood and can be at higher risk for homelessness, drug abuse, and becoming victims of violence. It is the hope of the Advisory Committee that the programs in this topic area will address ways to improve the adolescent’s behaviors to increase placement stability, thus reducing the number of placements and avoiding higher level placements; and ways to increase the adolescent’s coping skills to provide support and allow the youth to set and accomplish goals for the future, stay in lower levels of care, and achieve more independence.

Barbara Fisher
Social Worker Practitioner, Children's Services
Yolo County Department of Employment and Social Services, Woodland, CA

Programs in this topic area

Here are your search results for programs in the area of Behavioral Management for Adolescents in Child Welfare:

The programs listed below have been reviewed by the CEBC and, if appropriate, been rated using the Scientific Rating Scale.

Programs with a Scientific Rating of 1 - Well-Supported by Research Evidence:

  • Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) – detailed view
    Topics: Substance Abuse Treatment (Adolescent), Behavioral Management for Adolescents in Child Welfare
    Adolescents 11 to 18 with the following symptoms or problems: substance abuse or at risk, delinquent/conduct disorder, school and other behavioral ...
  • Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care - Adolescents (MTFC-A) – detailed view
    Topics: Disruptive Behavior Treatment (Child & Adolescent), Higher Level of Placement, Placement Stabilization, Behavioral Management for Adolescents in Child Welfare
    Boys and girls, 12-18 years old with severe delinquency and/or severe emotional and behavioral disorders. These youth were in ...
  • Multisystemic Therapy (MST) – detailed view
    Topics: Disruptive Behavior Treatment (Child & Adolescent), Substance Abuse Treatment (Adolescent), Behavioral Management for Adolescents in Child Welfare
    Youth, 12 to 17 years old, with possible substance abuse issues who are at risk of out-of-home placement due to antisocial or ...

Programs with a Scientific Rating of 2 - Supported by Research Evidence:

  • Functional Family Therapy (FFT) – detailed view
    Topics: Disruptive Behavior Treatment (Child & Adolescent), Substance Abuse Treatment (Adolescent), Behavioral Management for Adolescents in Child Welfare
    11-18 year olds with very serious problems such as conduct disorder, violent acting-out, and substance abuse

Programs with a Scientific Rating of 3 - Promising Research Evidence:

  • Teaching-Family Model (TFM) – detailed view
    Topics: Higher Level of Placement, Parent Training, Behavioral Management for Adolescents in Child Welfare
    Youth who are at-risk , juvenile delinquents, in foster care, mentally retarded/developmentally disabled, or severely emotionally disturbed. Families at risk ...

Programs with a Scientific Rating of NR - Not able to be Rated: