The efforts and focus of the Building Bridges Initiative will often necessitate changes to the clinical, administrative, and operational practices of traditional residential intervention models. Some of the questions to be considered include:
- How will briefer lengths of stay affect billing, financing, and budgeting strategies?
- What changes are required to ensure effective data tracking and reporting systems are in place?
- What modifications to the clinical treatment record may be required?
- Are changes to policies and procedures required to implement the key elements of the BBI model?
Changes to the cultural atmosphere of the residential setting are perhaps even more vital to consider. Each treatment setting naturally develops an internal culture. As models are developed, consider how changes to the operational and treatment model and an emphasis on partnering with youth and families in shared decision-making impact the staff culture.
The resources provided here offer residential program administrators a starting place to consider the positive impact that implementing BBI best practices will have on the entire culture of an organization — from intake processes to financing strategies, policies and procedures, hiring practices, staff culture, and more.
Key Resources
Emotion Management, Institutional Change, and the Spatial Arrangement of Care at a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility
“At Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF), the neoliberal reorganization of health and social care provision has come with increasing demands for financial efficiency, cost-containment, and evidence-based practices that affect workers’ performance of emotion management and their spatial relationship to the PRTF as a place of identity and connection.”
Building Bridges Joint Resolution
“The Building Bridges Initiative is a voluntary initiative. Agencies and organizations who endorse the Building Bridges Joint Resolution commit to integrating the stated values and principles within their respective environments to the best of their abilities and resources. Building Bridges strives to identify, promote, and disseminate best practices to inform and improve the field. Building Bridges does not verify or certify compliance with Building Bridges Joint Resolution principles by its endorsers.” See a list of organizations who have endorsed the Resolution.