Barriers and facilitators to use of services following intensive family preservation services

The primary caregivers of 101 families that used short-term, intensive home -based services were interviewed 2 months after the services to ascertain u se of the recommended aftercare services, perceived barriers to service use , and perceived facilitators of service use. While 88% of the families acce ssed at least some of the recommended services, more than 50% failed to acc ess all of the recommended aftercare services. The most often noted barrier s to service use were enabling factors at the agency or community level. Ye t, many of the services were used, and the respondents indicated that profe ssionals played a role in helping them link to services. Researchers should continue to study the use of recommended aftercare services and the relati onship between aftercare service use and critical outcomes.