Staff Support for Families of Youth Involved in Juvenile Justice System in Residential Treatment Programs

This study used a convenience sample of 51 employees of a mid-sized, Midwest residential treatment facility for children involved in juvenile justice system. Overall, the findings suggest that staff members support family involvement and recognize the link between a child’s return home and the activities designed to involve family during placement but are constrained by limited resources. The findings also indicate that family members are not treated as partners but rather as passive participants in the treatment milieu.