A COMPARISON OF PERCEPTIONS REGARDING THE PROCESS OF INSTITUTIONAL PLACEMENT

The use of institutional placement in juvenile justice, mental health, and child welfare continues to be widespread Yet there is little info rmation about the decision-making processes connected with the choice of this alternative for adolescents. Focus groups were held with admin istrators, staff, and youth in a variety of institutional placements. The discussions of these groups were qualitatively analyzed for conten t regarding the factors that motivated reliance on placement in instit utional care and the effects of policies to regulate this practice. Ag reement about the diversity of adolescents in institutions, the diffic ulties of (but necessity for) preventive interventions with families, and possible causes for reliance on institutional care emerged Differe nces about the risks and benefits of institutional placement were note d