| Abstract: | An evaluation study was conducted to determine the potential usefulness of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) with children placed in residential settings. The CBCL, the Global Assessment Scale, the Progress Evaluation Scales, and the Jesness Behavior Checklist were completed for 97 children in community residential treatment. Children categorized by the CBCL as Externalizers were found to be more obtrusive, hostile, alienated, nonconforming, attention seeking, and sensitive, and less responsible, insightful, and considerate than were Internalizers. The total problem score, the Internalizing scale score, and the Externalizing scale score on the CBCL were significantly correlated with problem severity, predicted length of stay, and a measure of placement appropriateness. These three total scores proved to be useful measures of residentially placed children. Results suggest that a high score on the Externalizing scale may reflect the presence of behaviors difficult to deal with in a residential environment. A high score on the Internalizing scale may be no less serious, but involves behaviors less disruptive of the group setting. The potential value of the CBCL for evaluating residentially placed children is discussed. |
