Child Welfare League of America, Inc., Washington, DC., Shostack, Albert L., Shostack, Albert L., and Child Welfare League of America, Inc., Washington, DC.
To succeed today, service models for group care of those in the child welfare system must emphasize a holistic approach, taking into account the needs of the individual, family, and surrounding social environment. Articulating the many tasks associated with both starting and running a community-based group home, this book provides a guide for group home operators and staff members, child welfare caseworkers, and others concerned with group care. The guide addresses the basic issues of placement, supervision, and day-to-day management, and offers essential information and practical recommendations. Following an introduction noting that group homes have had to adopt distinctive approaches geared to their special circumstances, the chapters of the guide are: (1) "Group Homes and Their Residents," including who operates such homes and how youth are placed in such homes; (2) "Financing Group Homes," including start-up costs, and financing day-to-day operations; (3) "Appropriate Quarters for Group Homes," including choosing a location, and elements of the home's physical environment; (4) "Staffing Patterns for Group Homes," including the director, social worker, and support staff; (5) "Building and Retaining a Competent Staff," including qualifying education and experience, and reducing turnover; (6) "The Admissions Process," including the role of placement agency caseworkers, and the perspective of parents and youths; (7) "Everyday Life in a Group Home," including daily routines, free time inside and outside the home, and common issues such as smoking and pets; (8)"Therapeutic Human Relations in a Group Home," including encouraging supportive peer group relations; (9) "Modifying Negative Behavior," including nondirective steps for behavior management, and punishment; (10) "Structured Treatment Services," including individual and group therapy, and counseling parents; (11) "Education, Recreation, and Health Services," including summer activities and use of volunteers; and (12) "Termination of Placements," including positive and negative terminations, and transitional programs. Contains 90 references. (HTH)