Abstract
This study evaluated youth well-being 24-months after the conclusion of outdoor behavioral healthcare (OBH) treatment and explored how youth transition to a variety of post-treatment settings. OBH treatment involves integrating clinical treatment approaches with wilderness expeditions that average over 50 days. Transition from OBH treatment often requires that youth and family utilize aftercare services, which are typically: (a) outpatient services, which are comprised of individualized, group or family therapy, or (b) residential services, which are comprised of residential treatment centers, therapeutic boarding schools, and others. The results suggest that 80% of parents and 95% of youths perceived OBH treatment as effective, the majority of clients were doing well in school, and family communication had improved. Aftercare was utilized by 85% of the youths and was perceived as a crucial component in facilitating the transition from an intensive wilderness experience to family, peer and school environments. Results also indicated that many continued to use alcohol and/or drugs to varying degrees, had legal problems, and still had issues forming friendships with peers. OBH treatment was perceived as being a necessary and effective step in helping youths address, and eventually overcome, emotional and psychological issues that were driving destructive behavior prior to OBH treatment.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
S. Bandoroff D.G. Scherer (1994) ArticleTitleWilderness family therapy: An innovative treatment approach for problem youth Journal of Child and Family Studies 3 IssueID2 175–191
L. Bennett S. Cardone K. Jarczyk (1998) ArticleTitleEffects of a therapeutic camping program on addiction recovery: The Algonquin Haymarket relapse prevention program Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 15 IssueID5 469–474 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1cvitlGrsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9751006
B. Blanz M.H. Schmidt (2000) ArticleTitlePreconditions and outcome of inpatient treatment in child and adolescent psychiatry Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry & Allied Disciplines 41 IssueID6 703–712
Burlingame, G. M., Wells, M. G., Hoag, M. J., Hopc, C. A., Nebeker, R. S., Konkel, K., et al. (1996). Manual for youth outcome questionnaire (Y-OQ). Stevenson, MD: American Professional Credentialing Services.
T.C.S. Castellano (1992) ArticleTitleTherapeutic wilderness programs and juvenile recidivism: a program evaluation Journal of Offender Rehabilitation 17 IssueID3/4 19–46
J.W. Creswell (1998) Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions Sage Publications Thousand Oaks, CA
K.J. Edgmon (2002) ArticleTitleTherapeutic benefits of a wilderness therapy program and a therapeutic community program for troubled adolescents Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences & Engineering 62 IssueID10 4781–4966
D.A. Erlandson E.L. Harris B.L. Skipper S.D. Allen (1993) Doing naturalistic inquiry —A guide to methods Sage Publications Newbury Park, CA
B.G. Glaser A.L. Strauss (1967) The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research Aldine Chicago, IL
C.M. Grilo S. Shiffman (1994) ArticleTitleLongitudinal investigation of the abstinence violation effect in binge eaters Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 62 IssueID3 611–619 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuA2c3ls1Y%3D Occurrence Handle8063988
E. Guba Y. Lincoln (1993) Competing paradigms in qualitative research N. Denzin Y. Lincoln (Eds) Handbook of qualitative research Sage Publications Thousand Oaks, CA
T.A. Hans (2000) ArticleTitleA meta-analysis of the effects of adventure programming on locus of control Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy 30 IssueID1 33–60
S. Harmon L. Lantinga R. Costello (1982) ArticleTitleAftercare in chemical dependence treatment Substance Abuse 1 107–109
J. Hattie H.W. Marsh J.T. Neill G.E. Richards (1997) ArticleTitleAdventure education and Outward Bound: Out-of-class experiences that make a lasting difference Review of Educational Research 67 IssueID1 43–87
K.A. Kerns J.E. Aspelmeier A.L. Gentzler C.M. Grabill (2001) ArticleTitleParent-child attachment and monitoring in middle childhood Journal of Family Psychology 15 IssueID1 69–81 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3jtVGlsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11322086
S. Lash S. Blosser (1999) ArticleTitleIncreasing adherence to substance abuse aftercare therapy Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 16 IssueID1 55–61 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M7gsFSluw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9888122
D.J. Martin J.P. Garske M.K. Davis (2000) ArticleTitleRelation of the therapeutic alliance with outcome and other variables: A meta-analytic review Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 68 IssueID3 438–450 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3czjvFOktw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10883561
S. Merriam (1988) Case study research in education: A qualitative approach Jossey Bass San Francisco, CA
M.B. Miles A.M. Huberman (1994) Qualitative data analysis: A sourcebook for new methods EditionNumber2 Sage Publications Thousand Oaks, CA
A.A.O. Pediatrics (1996) The classification of child and adolescent mental diagnoses in primary care (DSM-PC) American Academy of Pediatrics Elk Grove Village, IL
T. Richards L. Richards (1994) Using computers in qualitative analysis N. Denzin Y. Lincoln (Eds) Handbook of qualitative research Sage Publications Thousand Oaks, CA
K.C. Russell (2003) ArticleTitleAn assessment of outcomes in outdoor behavioral healthcare treatment Child and Youth Care Forum 32 IssueID6 355–381
K.C. Russell P.-M. Dianne (2002) ArticleTitlePerspectives on the wilderness therapy process and its relation to outcome Child and Youth Care Forum 31 IssueID6 415–437
A. Tatarsky (2002) Harm reduction psychotherapy A new treatment for drug and alcohol problems Jason Aronson Northvale, NJ
Winterdyk J., Griffiths C. (1984). Wilderness experience programs: reforming delinquents or beating around the bush? Juvenile and Family Court Journal, Fall 35–44.
K.C. Winters (1999) ArticleTitleTreating adolescents with substance use disorders: An overview of practice issues and outcomes Substance Abuse 20 IssueID4 203–225 Occurrence Handle12511829
K.C. Winters W.W. Latimer R. Stinchfield G.A. Henley (1999) ArticleTitleExamining psychosocial correlates of drug involvement in clinic-referred youth Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse 9 IssueID1 1–17
R.K. Yin (1993) Applications of Case Study Research Sage Thousand Oaks, CA
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Russell, K.C. Two Years Later: A Qualitative Assessment of Youth Well-Being and the Role of Aftercare in Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Treatment. Child Youth Care Forum 34, 209–239 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-005-3470-7
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-005-3470-7