Module 5: Special Topic Area – Effective Aftercare Overview

MODULE 5: Working with Families in their Homes and Communities

Overview:

• Aftercare refers to providing services and supports to youth and families in their homes and communities after the in-residential program services and supports have been completed. Aftercare is a key component of successful residential interventions for youth and families. Ideally, residential interventions are comprised of three components that flow seamlessly together: 1) pre-admission work and supports at home and in the community; 2) in-residential program work and supports both in the program and at home and in the community; and 3) aftercare work and supports at home and in the community. When leaders ensure, during the in-residential component, that youth are spending time at home as often as possible (i.e. multiple times weekly) and staff frequently are working with families in their homes and communities, the aftercare component seamlessly merges with the services and supports provided during the in-residential component.
• To prepare for successful discharge, a key goal for residential staff is to begin strengthening and/or building a home and community service and support network that meets the individual needs of each child and family, starting from pre-admission and continuing throughout the in-program and aftercare components of the residential intervention. By putting a strong focus on home and community service and support needs beginning pre-admission, programs ensure that these critical services and supports are fully in place prior to discharge.
• The strength of the community and support network in place prior to the transition from the in-program component to the aftercare component of the residential intervention will help determine the intensity and types of aftercare services and supports that residential program staff will need to provide in each family’s home and community. The strength of the support network also determines the length of time needed for these services and supports.
• Aftercare services are individualized for each family. They are provided for a minimum of six months, and ideally for a year. Some families may benefit from services and supports for even a longer period, even up to two years post-discharge from the residential program.
• Some programs have developed their own clinical and support practice models over time, based on a variety of reasons specific to their program. Other programs have chosen specific treatment models (e.g., multi-systemic therapy, functional family therapy) for their clinical and support practice models during the in-program and/or aftercare components of the residential intervention. Ideally, these models utilize culturally appropriate best practices for engaging families in their homes and communities. Best practice requires programs to track and use outcome data to inform practice improvement in all three residential intervention components (e.g., pre-admission, in-program, aftercare) no matter what model or practices they choose to use.

Module 5 Working with Families in their Homes and Communities Resources

BBI RESOURCES:

Ford, J., Manners, D., Wang, W., Lieberman, R.E., McMillan, J., & Caldwell, B. (2020). Establishing partnerships to improve aftercare and long-term outcomes for youth and families served through residential interventions. In B. Caldwell, R. Lieberman, J. LeBel, & G.M. Blau (Eds.), Transforming Residential Interventions: Practical Strategies and Future Directions (pp. 143–167). Routledge.

What Residential Leaders Need to Know about Effective Aftercare Practices for Youth Leaving Residential. (Forthcoming 2020, December). Building Bridges Initiative.

Working with Families in their Homes and Communities: A Building Bridges Initiative Tip Sheet for Residential Programs. (Forthcoming). Building Bridges Initiative.