HOW EFFECTIVE ARE GROUP HOMES FOR RESTORING WHOLENESS TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED?

How effective are group homes for restoring wholeness to children who have been abused?

How effective are group homes for restoring wholeness to children who have been abused?

Introduction

Group homes date back to colonial times in the United States, when wayward and orphaned children and youth worked for town tradesmen in exchange for room, board, and training. The first group home in the United States was established in New Orleans in 1727, created by a trading company and operated by seven Ursuline nuns (Adler, 1981). Other group homes were established, mostly throughout the South. During the 1800s, increasing numbers of group homes were opened, often to house deviants and “defective” persons. Group homes during the 19th century were synonymous with almshouses, penitentiaries, juvenile reformatories, and mental asylums. During that time, group homes housed children with adults and treated children as adults and were characterized by corporal punishment, abuse, starvation, lack of outside visitors and resources, poor treatment, and isolation from the community. The State Charities Aid Association of New York, while evaluating an almshouse housing 370 people, including 60 children, remarked that there was no nurse for the sick and that children were badly clothed and fed, poorly cared for, exposed to the influences of the inmates who took care of them, showed despair, and were joyless (Bremner, 1970). Opposition to such treatment of children came from many religious, social, and civic groups. Organized opposition brought about reform, which motivated Ohio to be the first state to remove all children from almshouses. By 1900, most states had followed suit.

Literature Review

With reform came a new type of group home, which numbered as high as 1,600 in 1923 (Tiffin, 1982). This new type of group home no longer housed adults with children and further evolved into the contemporary group home. Three significant developments occurred during the middle and latter part of the 20th century. First, the state required all group homes to be licensed. This created a system of regulation and control through government intervention at local, state, and federal levels. Second, deinstitutionalization became the norm for design and operations. Instead of large, one-room, open-bay facilities, shared rooms and cottage-like living became the preferred style. Finally, a psychological framework for each child became the standard operating procedure in the form of an individual service plan. With this change, the underlying goal of treating the child and returning him or her to the community was established.

Collectively across the United States, more than 50,000 children are housed annually in group homes. Group homes operate under two basic treatment models: house parents or shift personnel. The houseparent model consists of a married couple living in the facility with their own separate bedroom and bath. Relief workers may be hired to cover the night shift and/or provide time off for the couple. Support personnel, such as social workers and psychiatric staff, may be hired. The houseparent model provides a high level of consistency in staff and ...