U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Restraint Reduction in Children's Residential Facilities: Implementation at Damar Services

NCJ Number
230094
Journal
Residential Treatment for Children & Youth Volume: 27 Issue: 1 Dated: January-March 2010 Pages: 1-13
Author(s)
Jenell Holstead, M.S.; Diane Lamond, M.S.; Jim Dalton, Psy.D.; Anita Horne, M.B.A.; Robert Crick
Date Published
March 2010
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article describes a restraint reduction initiative implemented at Damar Services, Inc., a large, suburban, residential facility for children.
Abstract
There has been a strong movement in residential treatment programs to reduce the use of restraints. In the article, a restraint reduction initiative is described as implemented at a large children's residential agency. Results were examined and compared between 2004 (prior to implementation) and 2008. Results indicated a significant decrease in the number of restraints, amount of staff time spent in restraints, and the number of child injuries related to restraint per year. Additionally, the average number of staff injury due to client behavior stayed the same despite the belief that decreasing restraints will lead to increased staff injury. References (Published Abstract)