Editor’s Note

Abstract

The year 2020 has presented both challenges and opportunities to the field. In the wake of a pandemic, we are newly aware of how interconnected we are across the globe and the importance of learning from and with each other. In this issue of Residential Treatment for Children and Youth, we hear from researchers and practitioners implementing and evaluating novel interventions in residential programs. Several innovative models are considered in this issue. First, Van Gink and colleagues from the Netherlands present nonviolent resistance (NVR) as an approach for managing youth aggression. Their preliminary findings are promising for reducing seclusion and restraint incidents. Then, Jolivette and colleagues introduce a fidelity tool for FacilityWide implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (FW-PBIS) and their process for tool development that included broad stakeholder input. Next, the outcomes and cost effectiveness of MultifunC in Sweden are presented by Lofholm and colleagues. Even after two years, participants who received MultifunC had lower rates of needing secure residential care compared to similar youth, which allowed for significant cost savings. Finally, Crenshaw and Cannelli introduce the idea of “Stealth Therapy” as an approach for flexibly engaging clinically with youth in the residential milieu. Given the traumas youth in residential programs have experienced and the known importance of building a strong therapeutic alliance, stealth therapy offers an approach that considers these realities. As we rise to face the challenges of this time, perhaps these interventions and other ideas currently being developed and researched will elevate the quality of care for youth in residential programs and promote positive outcomes for youth and their families.