Several years ago, Jerri compiled a list of question to ask prospective Residential Treatment Center (RTC)'s. It was extremely helpful to me when I started looking. The 'net gremlins ate it, so I thought it would be helpful to new and future members to redo it. This is what I remember - please add on. Thanks!
1) Is the facility clean? Look at bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms.
2) Are the kids well groomed?
3) What is the kids' demeanor? Is staff interacting with- them, or does staff seem to be "babysitting"?
4) Does the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) restrain kids, and if so, how often are staff retrained in the procedure?
5) Is there a "quiet room" and what is the policy for it's use (length of time in it, supervision)?
6) How much group and individual therapy will difficult child be in, how often, and what is the training of the therapists (Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), PhD)?
7) What is the educational training of staff and how much turnover is there?
8) How many of the kids are wards of the state?
9) What are the expectations in terms of parental involvement/visits/phone calls?
10) What is the average length of stay?
11) Do they accept sexually predatory children and do they have a SACY (sexually aggressive children and youth) plan in place?
12) What is the staff to child ratio?
13) What degree of supervision is there? Are there "floats" available for crises? What is the nighttime staffing?
14) Are there times when they determine they cannot help a child, and do they refer the family to a more appropriate Residential Treatment Center (RTC)?
15) How often do children have to return to the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) after discharge?
16) What types of clients do they accept? Violent children, severe Learning Disability (LD)'s, etc.
17) How will staff communicate with you, and will they be available to you 24/7 for concerns?
18) What is their complaint process? If they have a program description and dispute resolution in writing (which they should), get it.
19) How often do kids bolt and what is their policy for dealing with- runners?
20) Is a psychiatrist on staff/on site? How many RN's are on site?
21) Who handles medical/dental care? Will staff make, and transport to, appts? Is there a visiting pediatrician?
22) Is there a school on site? Is it licensed by the state? Is there an opportunity for "mainstreaming" in the local schools if appropriate for the child?
23) What recreational activities are available, both on site and in the community?
24) Do the children share bedrooms, or are they private?
25) When do they hospitalize unstable children? Where? What are their suicide prevention measures?
26) You can check with the state agency who licenses the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) for any formal complaints against the Residential Treatment Center (RTC).
27) What does discharge planning consist of? Will they help you hook up with- community services? Do they offer any aftercare or follow up after discharge? Do they offer respite services?
I think that's it.
1) Is the facility clean? Look at bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms.
2) Are the kids well groomed?
3) What is the kids' demeanor? Is staff interacting with- them, or does staff seem to be "babysitting"?
4) Does the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) restrain kids, and if so, how often are staff retrained in the procedure?
5) Is there a "quiet room" and what is the policy for it's use (length of time in it, supervision)?
6) How much group and individual therapy will difficult child be in, how often, and what is the training of the therapists (Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), PhD)?
7) What is the educational training of staff and how much turnover is there?
8) How many of the kids are wards of the state?
9) What are the expectations in terms of parental involvement/visits/phone calls?
10) What is the average length of stay?
11) Do they accept sexually predatory children and do they have a SACY (sexually aggressive children and youth) plan in place?
12) What is the staff to child ratio?
13) What degree of supervision is there? Are there "floats" available for crises? What is the nighttime staffing?
14) Are there times when they determine they cannot help a child, and do they refer the family to a more appropriate Residential Treatment Center (RTC)?
15) How often do children have to return to the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) after discharge?
16) What types of clients do they accept? Violent children, severe Learning Disability (LD)'s, etc.
17) How will staff communicate with you, and will they be available to you 24/7 for concerns?
18) What is their complaint process? If they have a program description and dispute resolution in writing (which they should), get it.
19) How often do kids bolt and what is their policy for dealing with- runners?
20) Is a psychiatrist on staff/on site? How many RN's are on site?
21) Who handles medical/dental care? Will staff make, and transport to, appts? Is there a visiting pediatrician?
22) Is there a school on site? Is it licensed by the state? Is there an opportunity for "mainstreaming" in the local schools if appropriate for the child?
23) What recreational activities are available, both on site and in the community?
24) Do the children share bedrooms, or are they private?
25) When do they hospitalize unstable children? Where? What are their suicide prevention measures?
26) You can check with the state agency who licenses the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) for any formal complaints against the Residential Treatment Center (RTC).
27) What does discharge planning consist of? Will they help you hook up with- community services? Do they offer any aftercare or follow up after discharge? Do they offer respite services?
I think that's it.
DDD
