RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY TREATMENT SERVICES UTILIZED BY A SAMPLE OF YOUTH WITH SEVERE EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES

Analyzed case records to determine the costs and service usage pattern s for a group of 25 youth randomly selected from the case load of a re gional mental health agency. Study participants had extensive historie s of publicly supported psychiatric hospitalizations. An average of 36 .2 contacts per youth (905 total contacts) with human services provide rs were documented. Approximately 2 out of every 5 contacts resulted i n out-of-home placements. The estimated cost of providing services to the 25 youth exceeded 3 million dollars. The types and costs of treatm ent services provided to study participants are discussed.