Children and Residential Experiences (CARE)

Residential Child Care Project, Cornell University

Program Type

Education or Training Program, Treatment or Direct Services Program

Cost

$2,501 or more

Evidence Type

Empirically-Defined Evidence

SPRC Comprehensive Approach

Identify and Assist, Increase Help-Seeking, Effective Care/Treatment, Care Transition/Linkages, Respond to Crisis, Reduce Access to Means, Life Skills and Resilience, Connectedness

Program or Intervention Summary

CARE is a principle-based program designed to enhance the social dynamics in residential care settings through targeted staff development, ongoing reflective practice, and data-informed decision-making. Using an ecological approach, CARE aims to engage all staff at a residential care agency in a systematic effort to orient practices in order to provide trauma-informed and developmentally enriched living environments and to create a sense of normality for children and young people. CARE is organized around six principles related to attachment, trauma, resiliency, and ecological theory. The principles state that child care practices must be:

  • Relationship-based
  • Trauma-informed
  • Developmentally focused
  • Competence-centered
  • Family-involved
  • Ecologically oriented

Cornell University CARE consultants follow a standardized set of steps to train and support staff over the 3–4 year implementation period. An essential activity is the formation of a local Implementation Team with multilevel representation that provides support, modeling, and mentoring to staff at all levels as they incorporate CARE principles into their work. This approach is designed to cultivate personal investment and ownership among all staff levels at the agency.

Type Education or Training Program, Treatment or Direct Services Program
Setting Inpatient mental health facility
People Mental Health Professionals
Languages English
Study Method Mixed Methods Design
Implementer Requirement Adults
Training Requirement Yes
Delivery Options Hybrid
Risk and Protective Factors Impulsive or aggressive tendencies, Current or prior history of adverse childhood experiences, Feeling connected to others, Availability of consistent and high quality physical and behavioral healthcare

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