Althea Pestine-Stevens - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Althea Pestine-Stevens

The Gerontologist, 2021

The age-friendly communities movement has grown rapidly in global prominence over the past 2 deca... more The age-friendly communities movement has grown rapidly in global prominence over the past 2 decades. However, theories to guide multisectoral action toward age-friendly community change have been slower to develop. We demonstrate the value of drawing on theories of community collaboration to inform age-friendly community efforts across engagement, planning, implementation, and measurement. We introduce 3 theories—Asset-Based Community Development, Strategic Doing, and Collective Impact—each with principles and strategies for guiding multisectoral group processes toward long-term and systematic community change. While distinct from each other, these theories collectively suggest the importance of incorporating a more explicit community-building approach within the age-friendly communities movement. We describe the implications of this integrative theory development for bolstering sustainable and comprehensive practices and policies to improve environments for aging across diverse co...

The Gerontologist

Background and Objectives Age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs) strive to make localities be... more Background and Objectives Age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs) strive to make localities better for long and healthy lives by fostering improvements across social, physical, and service environments. Despite the heightened need for community supports during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, very little research has addressed the work of AFCIs in the context of this crisis. We aimed to develop theory on how AFCI core teams have contributed to community responses during the pandemic, as well as what contexts have influenced the initiatives’ ability to contribute. Research Design and Methods As part of a multiyear, community-partnered study on the development of philanthropically supported initiatives in northern New Jersey, we conducted qualitative interviews with 8 AFCI core teams during the winter of 2020–2021. The interviews focused on the leaders’ efforts at that time, with probing questions concerning enabling factors for their community responses. We analyzed the data...

Innovation in Aging, 2021

To advance an emerging empirical knowledge base for age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs), w... more To advance an emerging empirical knowledge base for age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs), we conducted a qualitative descriptive study to explore one manifestation of age-friendly practice: community events (CEs). We aimed to illuminate how AFCI core teams describe CEs as part of their practice and how they perceive the value of CEs for age-friendly progress. Using inductive coding, we analyzed data from semi-structured interviews (n=24) with eight core teams across three time points spanning the early to mid-implementation phases of the AFCIs. Two predominant themes emerged. First, CEs were described as important for working toward age-friendly goals concerning older residents’ social participation and inclusion. Second, core teams described the longer-term strategic value of CEs, such as building interorganizational partnerships; providing deeper insight on aging in community; and fostering older adults’ leadership as part of the initiative. We discuss implications for advan...

Innovation in Aging, 2021

Older adults with intersecting identities as persons of color experience disparities in health an... more Older adults with intersecting identities as persons of color experience disparities in health and well-being due to racism in individual and structural spheres, which have been amplified by health, economic, and social consequences of COVID-19. We can begin the work to reduce these inequities by training scholars and practitioners to disrupt the systems within which we work that relegate advantages and disadvantages throughout the life course and in later life by racial groups. This interactive symposium presents resources on anti-racist gerontological education and provides an opportunity to engage critically with peers in all stages of their careers and anti-racism journeys who are interested in integrating anti-racism into their teaching. The first presenter introduces conversations to begin anti-racist pedagogy and assumptions to dismantle. The second presenter describes cultural humility as an essential step towards self-awareness and critical self-reflection for educators and...

Innovation in Aging, 2021

Despite high levels of racial disparities in health and well-being among older adults, curricula ... more Despite high levels of racial disparities in health and well-being among older adults, curricula addressing how aging services systems contribute to or work to ameliorate these disparities are scarce. This paper introduces a module on inequalities and anti-racism in aging developed for an online course on aging services within a Master of Social Work program. First, materials that help students identify and understand racial inequalities in aging and in the programs that serve older adults are presented. Next, students are introduced to the applied context of how COVID-19 has exacerbated these inequalities. Finally, students critically engage in reflections and assessments of the available resources within aging services and advocacy organizations, providing recommendations for how these systems may better incorporate anti-racist practices. Challenges and opportunities will be discussed, including piloting this module in a virtual, asynchronous environment.

Innovation in Aging, 2021

To advance an emerging empirical knowledge base for age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs), w... more To advance an emerging empirical knowledge base for age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs), we conducted a qualitative descriptive study to explore one manifestation of age-friendly practice: community events (CEs). We aimed to illuminate how AFCI core teams describe CEs as part of their practice and how they perceive the value of CEs for age-friendly progress. Using inductive coding, we analyzed data from semi-structured interviews (n=24) with eight core teams across three time points spanning the early to mid-implementation phases of the AFCIs. Two predominant themes emerged. First, CEs were described as important for working toward age-friendly goals concerning older residents’ social participation and inclusion. Second, core teams described the longer-term strategic value of CEs, such as building interorganizational partnerships; providing deeper insight on aging in community; and fostering older adults’ leadership as part of the initiative. We discuss implications for advan...

Når oppfatningene om hva som er de faste punktene i tilvaerelsen, endrer seg raskt, utløser det s... more Når oppfatningene om hva som er de faste punktene i tilvaerelsen, endrer seg raskt, utløser det sterke følelser. Og åpner for nye muligheter Jeg er ikke blant dem som har finlest avisenes børs-og finansspalter, blant annet fordi jeg ikke har forstå dem. Jeg har tenkt at det som skjer på det området, er nokså ernt fra det som opptar meg mest og at det dessuten er mange andre som har genuin interesse for de e. Alle kan ikke interessere seg for alt.

Innovation in Aging, 2020

Age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs) are frequently described as community collaborations; ... more Age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs) are frequently described as community collaborations; the AARP program model encourages diverse stakeholder engagement to achieve its aims of improving the social and built environments for long lives. However, little is known empirically about how AFCIs function as collaborations and how these relationships and activities lead to community changes. This paper presents how we developed a social network analysis tool to measure collaboration in AFCIs, which emerged from multi-year, university-community partnerships on AFCIs in western New York and northern New Jersey. Iterative processes, including inductive analysis of qualitative interviews and facilitated meetings with local AFCI work-groups, provided opportunities to create survey items on collaboration with meaning specific to AFCIs. We describe this tool’s application as part of a survey of AFCI stakeholders, demonstrating how findings contribute both to advancing knowledge on AFCIs in...

Innovation in Aging, 2020

Age-Friendly Community Initiatives (AFCIs) are expanding throughout the United States to make soc... more Age-Friendly Community Initiatives (AFCIs) are expanding throughout the United States to make social and built environments within local communities more responsive to population aging. With over 450 initiatives affiliated with the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, Cities, and States (125 of which began in 2019-early 2020), rapid growth on the ground necessitates that theory and research develop alongside practice innovations. This symposium showcases the intersection of cutting-edge scholarship with community-based efforts to generate knowledge of community change processes that is immediately actionable by community leaders. Collectively, these papers emphasize the benefits of action research and developmental evaluation in community gerontology towards building the theories of age-friendly change that will set the stage for outcomes research. The first paper will present on work with 83 AFCIs in rural Maine involving interviews with organizational leaders to inform which ...

Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 2020

OBJECTIVE Millions of children cared for by their grandparents or other kin without a biological ... more OBJECTIVE Millions of children cared for by their grandparents or other kin without a biological parent present are not part of the foster care system. Maltreatment may have precipitated out-of-home care arrangements, but most children in informal kinship care are not being tracked or receiving services. Importantly, the extent of previous child welfare involvement and its association with well-being among this population are not well known. METHODS Kinship caregivers known to social service and community agencies were recruited for this study. Caregivers who agreed to participate rated the physical and emotional health of children under their care. Maternal mental health and demographic data were collected, and matched records of children were retrieved from the state child welfare database. The nested structure of children within families was addressed using a generalized estimating equation model. RESULTS The sample included 365 children from 274 families. Only 25% of the children were in private kinship care with no known Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement. An average of 2.37 open CPS cases were observed for those in voluntary kinship care. One out of 4 children scored below the clinical level of emotional health. The number of CPS cases and kin caregiver's parenting stress were inversely associated with child's physical and emotional health. The presence of maternal mental health problem was significantly associated with poor child emotional well-being. CONCLUSION Many children in informal kinship care experienced multiple episodes of maltreatment. This study's results add further evidence of the cumulative negative effects of child maltreatment on child well-being. Children in informal kinship care are in need of services to mitigate their traumatic experiences.

Innovation in Aging, 2019

Age-friendly initiatives (AFIs) convene stakeholders throughout a community to improve social and... more Age-friendly initiatives (AFIs) convene stakeholders throughout a community to improve social and built environments for long lives. Despite rapid growth in AFIs worldwide, research on how AFIs operate, sustain, and impact their communities has been slow to develop. This poster presents a new social network analysis (SNA) survey instrument, which can be used to advance research on AFIs by identifying key relationships and activities that drive collaborative community change processes. The survey asks a representative from each organizational member of an AFI coalition to select “partner” organizations with whom they have worked on AFI goals. Respondents then select from a list of activities in which they engage with each partnering organization. The questions regarding collaboration activities were developed based on theories of inter-sectoral and community-wide collaboration, SNA studies of collaboration in health prevention networks, and qualitative interviews with leaders of an e...

Engaged Scholar Journal: Community-Engaged Research, Teaching, and Learning, 2019

This article highlights the various ways in which we represented the visual voices of LGBTQ forme... more This article highlights the various ways in which we represented the visual voices of LGBTQ former foster youth through photovoice methodology in order to engage various stakeholders, diverse communities, and the participants themselves. We locate our research within other similar community-based, participatory projects and weave in our collective experiences. Through the juxtaposition of academic literature with the various steps of our research process, this article provides our critical reflections of our engagement process as we prepared for the research, interacted with the community, shared our findings, and incorporated social change efforts through the dissemination of the visual data in various formal and informal spaces.

Journal of Aging & Social Policy

Multi-sectoral collaboration is widely considered essential for age-friendly community change; ho... more Multi-sectoral collaboration is widely considered essential for age-friendly community change; however, there has been little empirical research to describe the ways in which organizations interact as part of age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs). We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using data from multiple waves of semi-structured interviews with core teams of eight grant-funded AFCIs in the north-eastern U.S. We employed iterative, inductive coding to systematically describe ways in which AFCI core teams described working with other organizational entities. Findings indicated two overarching themes: (a) helping each other (giving and receiving linking, informational, and instrumental assistance), and (b) doing something together (organizing community events, planning collaborative projects, participating in meetings). We discuss the implications of this characterization for guiding research, evaluation, and policy to optimize AFCI implementation and impact across diverse settings.

Journal of Gerontological Social Work

Engaged Scholar Journal: Community-Engaged Research, Teaching, and Learning, 2019

This article highlights the various ways in which we represented the visual voices of LGBTQ forme... more This article highlights the various ways in which we represented the visual voices of LGBTQ former foster youth through photovoice methodology in order to engage various stakeholders, diverse communities, and the participants themselves. We locate our research within other similar community-based, participatory projects and weave in our collective experiences. Through the juxtaposition of academic literature with the various steps of our research process, this article provides our critical reflections of our engagement process as we prepared for the research, interacted with the community, shared our findings, and incorporated social change efforts through the dissemination of the visual data in various formal and informal spaces.

Experiencing seclusion and restraint while in therapeutic care can have damaging effects on youth... more Experiencing seclusion and restraint while in therapeutic care
can have damaging effects on youth who have experienced
trauma. Our organization, the Texas Network of Youth Services,
with funding from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, has
been working with Texas Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) to
reduce their restraints and use of seclusion, using the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Six
Core Strategies to Prevent Conflict and Violence as a guide and
protocol. Concurrent with this project we have been helping these
RTCs to make decisions related to more collaborative and client-centered approaches to use with youth, including the notion of replacing their level systems with individualized, youth-centered programming. This article reports on how the transition from level systems to ward more individualized programming can be a helpful approach to decreasing the use of restraint in residential treatment while increasing the youth’s sense of safety and participation in their treatment.

Experiencing seclusion and restraint while in therapeutic care can have damaging effects on youth... more Experiencing seclusion and restraint while in therapeutic care
can have damaging effects on youth who have experienced
trauma. This paper reports on working with Texas Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) to support their reducing use of restraints and seclusion, using the Six Core Strategies to Prevent Conflict and Violence as a guide and
protocol. Concurrent with this project we have been helping these RTCs to make decisions related to instituting more collaborative and client-centered approaches with youth, including replacing level systems with individualized youth-centered programming. This article reports on how the transition from level systems toward individualized programming can be a helpful approach to decreasing the use of restraint in residential treatment while increasing the youth’s sense of safety and participation in programming.

The Gerontologist, 2021

The age-friendly communities movement has grown rapidly in global prominence over the past 2 deca... more The age-friendly communities movement has grown rapidly in global prominence over the past 2 decades. However, theories to guide multisectoral action toward age-friendly community change have been slower to develop. We demonstrate the value of drawing on theories of community collaboration to inform age-friendly community efforts across engagement, planning, implementation, and measurement. We introduce 3 theories—Asset-Based Community Development, Strategic Doing, and Collective Impact—each with principles and strategies for guiding multisectoral group processes toward long-term and systematic community change. While distinct from each other, these theories collectively suggest the importance of incorporating a more explicit community-building approach within the age-friendly communities movement. We describe the implications of this integrative theory development for bolstering sustainable and comprehensive practices and policies to improve environments for aging across diverse co...

The Gerontologist

Background and Objectives Age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs) strive to make localities be... more Background and Objectives Age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs) strive to make localities better for long and healthy lives by fostering improvements across social, physical, and service environments. Despite the heightened need for community supports during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, very little research has addressed the work of AFCIs in the context of this crisis. We aimed to develop theory on how AFCI core teams have contributed to community responses during the pandemic, as well as what contexts have influenced the initiatives’ ability to contribute. Research Design and Methods As part of a multiyear, community-partnered study on the development of philanthropically supported initiatives in northern New Jersey, we conducted qualitative interviews with 8 AFCI core teams during the winter of 2020–2021. The interviews focused on the leaders’ efforts at that time, with probing questions concerning enabling factors for their community responses. We analyzed the data...

Innovation in Aging, 2021

To advance an emerging empirical knowledge base for age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs), w... more To advance an emerging empirical knowledge base for age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs), we conducted a qualitative descriptive study to explore one manifestation of age-friendly practice: community events (CEs). We aimed to illuminate how AFCI core teams describe CEs as part of their practice and how they perceive the value of CEs for age-friendly progress. Using inductive coding, we analyzed data from semi-structured interviews (n=24) with eight core teams across three time points spanning the early to mid-implementation phases of the AFCIs. Two predominant themes emerged. First, CEs were described as important for working toward age-friendly goals concerning older residents’ social participation and inclusion. Second, core teams described the longer-term strategic value of CEs, such as building interorganizational partnerships; providing deeper insight on aging in community; and fostering older adults’ leadership as part of the initiative. We discuss implications for advan...

Innovation in Aging, 2021

Older adults with intersecting identities as persons of color experience disparities in health an... more Older adults with intersecting identities as persons of color experience disparities in health and well-being due to racism in individual and structural spheres, which have been amplified by health, economic, and social consequences of COVID-19. We can begin the work to reduce these inequities by training scholars and practitioners to disrupt the systems within which we work that relegate advantages and disadvantages throughout the life course and in later life by racial groups. This interactive symposium presents resources on anti-racist gerontological education and provides an opportunity to engage critically with peers in all stages of their careers and anti-racism journeys who are interested in integrating anti-racism into their teaching. The first presenter introduces conversations to begin anti-racist pedagogy and assumptions to dismantle. The second presenter describes cultural humility as an essential step towards self-awareness and critical self-reflection for educators and...

Innovation in Aging, 2021

Despite high levels of racial disparities in health and well-being among older adults, curricula ... more Despite high levels of racial disparities in health and well-being among older adults, curricula addressing how aging services systems contribute to or work to ameliorate these disparities are scarce. This paper introduces a module on inequalities and anti-racism in aging developed for an online course on aging services within a Master of Social Work program. First, materials that help students identify and understand racial inequalities in aging and in the programs that serve older adults are presented. Next, students are introduced to the applied context of how COVID-19 has exacerbated these inequalities. Finally, students critically engage in reflections and assessments of the available resources within aging services and advocacy organizations, providing recommendations for how these systems may better incorporate anti-racist practices. Challenges and opportunities will be discussed, including piloting this module in a virtual, asynchronous environment.

Innovation in Aging, 2021

To advance an emerging empirical knowledge base for age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs), w... more To advance an emerging empirical knowledge base for age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs), we conducted a qualitative descriptive study to explore one manifestation of age-friendly practice: community events (CEs). We aimed to illuminate how AFCI core teams describe CEs as part of their practice and how they perceive the value of CEs for age-friendly progress. Using inductive coding, we analyzed data from semi-structured interviews (n=24) with eight core teams across three time points spanning the early to mid-implementation phases of the AFCIs. Two predominant themes emerged. First, CEs were described as important for working toward age-friendly goals concerning older residents’ social participation and inclusion. Second, core teams described the longer-term strategic value of CEs, such as building interorganizational partnerships; providing deeper insight on aging in community; and fostering older adults’ leadership as part of the initiative. We discuss implications for advan...

Når oppfatningene om hva som er de faste punktene i tilvaerelsen, endrer seg raskt, utløser det s... more Når oppfatningene om hva som er de faste punktene i tilvaerelsen, endrer seg raskt, utløser det sterke følelser. Og åpner for nye muligheter Jeg er ikke blant dem som har finlest avisenes børs-og finansspalter, blant annet fordi jeg ikke har forstå dem. Jeg har tenkt at det som skjer på det området, er nokså ernt fra det som opptar meg mest og at det dessuten er mange andre som har genuin interesse for de e. Alle kan ikke interessere seg for alt.

Innovation in Aging, 2020

Age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs) are frequently described as community collaborations; ... more Age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs) are frequently described as community collaborations; the AARP program model encourages diverse stakeholder engagement to achieve its aims of improving the social and built environments for long lives. However, little is known empirically about how AFCIs function as collaborations and how these relationships and activities lead to community changes. This paper presents how we developed a social network analysis tool to measure collaboration in AFCIs, which emerged from multi-year, university-community partnerships on AFCIs in western New York and northern New Jersey. Iterative processes, including inductive analysis of qualitative interviews and facilitated meetings with local AFCI work-groups, provided opportunities to create survey items on collaboration with meaning specific to AFCIs. We describe this tool’s application as part of a survey of AFCI stakeholders, demonstrating how findings contribute both to advancing knowledge on AFCIs in...

Innovation in Aging, 2020

Age-Friendly Community Initiatives (AFCIs) are expanding throughout the United States to make soc... more Age-Friendly Community Initiatives (AFCIs) are expanding throughout the United States to make social and built environments within local communities more responsive to population aging. With over 450 initiatives affiliated with the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, Cities, and States (125 of which began in 2019-early 2020), rapid growth on the ground necessitates that theory and research develop alongside practice innovations. This symposium showcases the intersection of cutting-edge scholarship with community-based efforts to generate knowledge of community change processes that is immediately actionable by community leaders. Collectively, these papers emphasize the benefits of action research and developmental evaluation in community gerontology towards building the theories of age-friendly change that will set the stage for outcomes research. The first paper will present on work with 83 AFCIs in rural Maine involving interviews with organizational leaders to inform which ...

Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 2020

OBJECTIVE Millions of children cared for by their grandparents or other kin without a biological ... more OBJECTIVE Millions of children cared for by their grandparents or other kin without a biological parent present are not part of the foster care system. Maltreatment may have precipitated out-of-home care arrangements, but most children in informal kinship care are not being tracked or receiving services. Importantly, the extent of previous child welfare involvement and its association with well-being among this population are not well known. METHODS Kinship caregivers known to social service and community agencies were recruited for this study. Caregivers who agreed to participate rated the physical and emotional health of children under their care. Maternal mental health and demographic data were collected, and matched records of children were retrieved from the state child welfare database. The nested structure of children within families was addressed using a generalized estimating equation model. RESULTS The sample included 365 children from 274 families. Only 25% of the children were in private kinship care with no known Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement. An average of 2.37 open CPS cases were observed for those in voluntary kinship care. One out of 4 children scored below the clinical level of emotional health. The number of CPS cases and kin caregiver's parenting stress were inversely associated with child's physical and emotional health. The presence of maternal mental health problem was significantly associated with poor child emotional well-being. CONCLUSION Many children in informal kinship care experienced multiple episodes of maltreatment. This study's results add further evidence of the cumulative negative effects of child maltreatment on child well-being. Children in informal kinship care are in need of services to mitigate their traumatic experiences.

Innovation in Aging, 2019

Age-friendly initiatives (AFIs) convene stakeholders throughout a community to improve social and... more Age-friendly initiatives (AFIs) convene stakeholders throughout a community to improve social and built environments for long lives. Despite rapid growth in AFIs worldwide, research on how AFIs operate, sustain, and impact their communities has been slow to develop. This poster presents a new social network analysis (SNA) survey instrument, which can be used to advance research on AFIs by identifying key relationships and activities that drive collaborative community change processes. The survey asks a representative from each organizational member of an AFI coalition to select “partner” organizations with whom they have worked on AFI goals. Respondents then select from a list of activities in which they engage with each partnering organization. The questions regarding collaboration activities were developed based on theories of inter-sectoral and community-wide collaboration, SNA studies of collaboration in health prevention networks, and qualitative interviews with leaders of an e...

Engaged Scholar Journal: Community-Engaged Research, Teaching, and Learning, 2019

This article highlights the various ways in which we represented the visual voices of LGBTQ forme... more This article highlights the various ways in which we represented the visual voices of LGBTQ former foster youth through photovoice methodology in order to engage various stakeholders, diverse communities, and the participants themselves. We locate our research within other similar community-based, participatory projects and weave in our collective experiences. Through the juxtaposition of academic literature with the various steps of our research process, this article provides our critical reflections of our engagement process as we prepared for the research, interacted with the community, shared our findings, and incorporated social change efforts through the dissemination of the visual data in various formal and informal spaces.

Journal of Aging & Social Policy

Multi-sectoral collaboration is widely considered essential for age-friendly community change; ho... more Multi-sectoral collaboration is widely considered essential for age-friendly community change; however, there has been little empirical research to describe the ways in which organizations interact as part of age-friendly community initiatives (AFCIs). We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using data from multiple waves of semi-structured interviews with core teams of eight grant-funded AFCIs in the north-eastern U.S. We employed iterative, inductive coding to systematically describe ways in which AFCI core teams described working with other organizational entities. Findings indicated two overarching themes: (a) helping each other (giving and receiving linking, informational, and instrumental assistance), and (b) doing something together (organizing community events, planning collaborative projects, participating in meetings). We discuss the implications of this characterization for guiding research, evaluation, and policy to optimize AFCI implementation and impact across diverse settings.

Journal of Gerontological Social Work

Engaged Scholar Journal: Community-Engaged Research, Teaching, and Learning, 2019

This article highlights the various ways in which we represented the visual voices of LGBTQ forme... more This article highlights the various ways in which we represented the visual voices of LGBTQ former foster youth through photovoice methodology in order to engage various stakeholders, diverse communities, and the participants themselves. We locate our research within other similar community-based, participatory projects and weave in our collective experiences. Through the juxtaposition of academic literature with the various steps of our research process, this article provides our critical reflections of our engagement process as we prepared for the research, interacted with the community, shared our findings, and incorporated social change efforts through the dissemination of the visual data in various formal and informal spaces.

Experiencing seclusion and restraint while in therapeutic care can have damaging effects on youth... more Experiencing seclusion and restraint while in therapeutic care
can have damaging effects on youth who have experienced
trauma. Our organization, the Texas Network of Youth Services,
with funding from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, has
been working with Texas Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) to
reduce their restraints and use of seclusion, using the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Six
Core Strategies to Prevent Conflict and Violence as a guide and
protocol. Concurrent with this project we have been helping these
RTCs to make decisions related to more collaborative and client-centered approaches to use with youth, including the notion of replacing their level systems with individualized, youth-centered programming. This article reports on how the transition from level systems to ward more individualized programming can be a helpful approach to decreasing the use of restraint in residential treatment while increasing the youth’s sense of safety and participation in their treatment.

Experiencing seclusion and restraint while in therapeutic care can have damaging effects on youth... more Experiencing seclusion and restraint while in therapeutic care
can have damaging effects on youth who have experienced
trauma. This paper reports on working with Texas Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) to support their reducing use of restraints and seclusion, using the Six Core Strategies to Prevent Conflict and Violence as a guide and
protocol. Concurrent with this project we have been helping these RTCs to make decisions related to instituting more collaborative and client-centered approaches with youth, including replacing level systems with individualized youth-centered programming. This article reports on how the transition from level systems toward individualized programming can be a helpful approach to decreasing the use of restraint in residential treatment while increasing the youth’s sense of safety and participation in programming.