12-month follow-up outcomes for youth departing and integrated residential continuum of care.

This study examined the 12-month post-departure outcomes for youth who exited a residential treatment program at differing levels of restrictiveness. Study participants were 120 youth who entered an integrated residential continuum of care at its most restrictive level and then either departed the program at the same level or stepped down and departed at a lower level of restrictiveness. Results indicate that youth who stepped down and exited at the lowest level of restrictiveness were the most likely to be living at home or in a homelike setting and experienced fewer formal post-departure out-of-home placements. However, there were no differences in post-departure rates of substance use, arrests, or being in school or having graduated. These results suggest that youth who were served in the integrated continuum and departed at the lowest level of restrictiveness had more positive outcomes at 12-month post-discharge.