A social-ecological assessment and feedback-intervention of an adolescent treatment agency

This research project examined the utility of one of Moos's Social Ecology Scales as applied to a community-based, adolescent treatment facility. Real and Ideal forms of the Community Oriented Program Environment Scale (COPES) were administered to the staff and clients at two separate facilities of the same adolescent service agency. Comparisons of the social ecological profiles of the two facilities revealed anticipated differences in the perceived levels of administrative order and control. Perceptions of the environment, however, were not found to correlate with independent measures of satisfaction or with individual-difference variables. Feedback of the survey findings to the staff members provided them with useful insights in changing program activities. These findings are discussed in light of the extant literature on the use of survey-feedback designs within organizational settings. Suggestions for future research in adolescent treatment environments are offered.