ABSTRACT
This qualitative case study was developed to provide a better understanding of facilitated coordinated procedures and collaborations, during and after discharge, among all members of a youth's environment that may potentially decrease or eliminate rehospitalization and promote successful long-term outcomes. Mental illness does not affect only the youth or person afflicted;mental illness seeps into every environment where youth grow and develop (Gathright, et. al, 2016;Hall & Dubois, 2020;Hoagwood et al., 2007, James et. al, 2010).The key theoretical framework utilized within this study is attributed to Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological and bioecological theory of human development (Bronfenbrenner, 1974, 1977, 1979). Additionally, this study also incorporated research from Epstein (1995) and Epstein et al.'s (2002) research.This qualitative study utilized a multiple-case design (Stake, 2006;Yin, 2014). The required amount of six participants were recruited, three from each separate case. One caregiver, one school representative, and one community agency representative were identified for two separate youth cases discharged from two separate inpatient psychiatric hospitals in Pennsylvania. For this study, the researcher developed structured and semi-structured interview questions that varied in length by the role of the participant. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the study site was established virtually through the HIPAA-compliant platform GoToMeeting. After the data had been collected, it was organized, reviewed, coded, and analyzed according to procedures recommended by Creswell (2014) and Tesch (1990).Findings indicate that participants of this current study understood the significance of their roles within this discharge planning process, but also shared their perspectives and experiences of the challenges and barriers they encounter that inhibit this process. These participants not only realized the challenges but also had a common premise for making the collaborative process better. Recommendations for current and future key members were provided along with ideas for future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)