The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law developed a Fact Sheet that explains the problems with residential facilities.  Specifically about Children’s Mental Health Residential Treatment Centers (RTC), the Fact Sheet has relevance when discussing all institutionalization of children.

Highlights of the facts provided include:

  • In one study, nearly 50% of children were readmitted to an RTC, and 75% were either re-institutionalized or arrested.
  • Children frequently arrive at RTCs traumatized by the process that delivered them there.
  • Many children’s conditions do not improve at all while at the RTC.
  • The RTCs often provide less intense services and staff is often under-trained.
  • Research has demonstrated that some children learn antisocial or bizarre behavior from intensive exposure to other disturbed children.
  • Removed from their families and natural support systems, children are unable to draw upon the strengths of their communities and their communities are unable to contribute to their treatment.
  • Children and their families are far from one another and neither the children nor their parents learn better ways to overcome the obstacles that led to the RTC placement.

Read all the facts here.