Minimizing Seclusion and Restraint in Youth Residential and Day Treatment Through Site-Wide Implementation of Collaborative Problem Solving

Abstract

Despite a growing understanding of the need to reduce seclusion and restraint (S/R) in all types of youth psychiatric facilities, published accounts of success in the psychological literature have been limited to inpatient facilities. Furthermore, existing publications on successful S/R reduction rarely include details about implementation that would be helpful to other agencies looking to follow their lead. This article presents the case of one multiservice agency that reduced S/R rates in youth residential and day treatment programs after adopting the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach. It includes detailed information on implementation, data illustrating the reduction of S/R after CPS implementation, and discussion of possible benefits to youth outcomes and organizational costs.