Effectiveness and Costs of a Therapeutic Residential Care Program for Adolescents with a Serious Behavior Problem (MultifunC). Short-Term Results of a Non-Randomized Controlled Trial. Issue 3 (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andrée Löfholm, Cecilia; Olsson, Tina M.; Sundell, Knut
• Is Part Of: Residential treatment for children & youth. Volume 37:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 226
• Page End: 243
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: Juvenile offenders -- effectiveness trial -- therapeutic residential care -- MultifunC; Children -- Institutional care -- Periodicals; Youth -- Institutional care -- Periodicals; 362.732
• DOI: 10.1080/0886571X.2019.1619500
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0886-571X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Although research has repeatedly shown that residential care for youth with a serious behavior problem has little rehabilitation success, there is a group of youth for whom residential care in a locked setting is necessary. In this article, a manualized therapeutic residential treatment model for adolescents with serious behavior problems, MultifunC, is evaluated. The program theory of MultifunC is based on a review of the literature and synthesis effective treatment components. This study included 80 youth aged 15–17 years with a medium high or high risk for reoffending. Half of the participants received MultifunC, and half treatment as usual (TAU). Although non-randomized, the two groups were found to be equivalent on important background variables. After 24 months, this first evaluation of MultifunC demonstrated that youth participating in MultifunC had a reduced need for residential care in a locked setting as well as out-of-home placement in general compared to youth in the TAU group. The economic analysis found MultifunC to be a cost-effective alternative to TAU due to the reduced need of residential care in locked settings. There were no significant effects on reoffending or psychiatric care.