Success Rate of African American Youth in Therapeutic Group Homes (3)

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Arts Humanities

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Jan 9, 2024

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1 Success Rate of African American Youth in Therapeutic Group Homes Tyria Foster College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Grand Canyon University PSY-530: Social and Cultural Psychology Mark Segraves April 12, 2023
2 Introduction The success rate of African American youth in therapeutic group homes has been a topic of interest for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners (Jackson & Lewis- O’Connor, et al, 2021). Therapeutic group homes are residential settings that provide structured treatment services to children and adolescents who have experienced emotional or behavioral problems. Therapeutic group homes have been considered as an effective means of supporting the well- being and mental health of African American youth, who are often at higher risk for various social and emotional issues. These homes aim to improve the mental health outcomes and social functioning of youth who require intensive care due to their psychological conditions. Previous studies have shown that therapeutic group homes can be beneficial for some youth populations; however, there is limited research on the effectiveness of these homes specifically for African American youth. This literature analysis will analyze, compare, and combine literature related to the success rate of African American youth in therapeutic group homes. Literature Review African American youth are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system and experience higher rates of placement in foster care than other racial groups. Additionally, African American youth are more likely to experience trauma, poverty, and discrimination than their non-African American peers. These factors increase the risk of developing mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and conduct disorder. Therefore, it is essential to understand how therapeutic group homes can meet the needs of this population. Several studies have examined the effectiveness of therapeutic group homes for various youth
3 populations. For instance, Hensley et al. (2016) conducted a study that aimed to evaluate the impact of a therapeutic group home program on adolescent girls' mental health outcomes. The results showed that participants reported significant improvements in self-esteem, emotional regulation skills, interpersonal relationships with staff members and peers, academic performance, and overall quality of life after completing the program (Hensley & Shaffer et al., 2016). Similarly, Schaeffer et al. (2016) found that males who participated in a therapeutic group home program had better mental health outcomes than those who received traditional residential treatment services (Schaffer & Putnam-Hornstein et al., 2016). While these studies provide insight into the effectiveness of therapeutic group homes for youth, they do not focus explicitly on African American youth. Therefore, it is necessary to examine research that specifically addresses the success rate of African American youth in therapeutic group homes. Unfortunately, limited research has been conducted on this topic. One study that examined the experiences of African American youth in therapeutic group homes was conducted by Anderson et al. (2015). The authors aimed to explore how staff members' cultural competence affects African American girls' mental health outcomes in a therapeutic group home program. The results showed that participants reported better mental health outcomes when staff members were culturally competent and provided them with opportunities to engage in culturally relevant activities such as music therapy and hair care sessions. This study highlights the importance of considering cultural factors when providing services to African American youth in therapeutic group homes (Anderson & Smith 2020) .
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