Predictors of Behavioral and Mental Health Outcomes Among Youth Involved in Residential Treatment Programs

Behavioral healthcare challenges are the leading causes of disability and poor life outcomes in young people, with up to one in five children ages 13 to 17 in the US with a reported mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorders (Perou, et al., 2013). Although evidence suggests that residential programs support treatment for behavioral and mental health problems (e.g., Leonard et al., 2016; Schneider et al., 2018; Yeheskel et al., 2020), differences between such programs remain understudied. The current research study will examine predictors of behavioral and mental health outcomes among youth involved in residential treatment programs. Data is gleaned from the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) database. Project outcomes will include submission for peer-reviewed publication(s), which is my core responsibility within the study.