Barriers and facilitators to use of services following intensive family preservation services

The primary caregivers of 101 families that used short-term, intensive home-based services were interviewed 2 months after the services to ascertain use of the recommended aftercare services, perceived barriers to service use, and perceived facilitators of service use. While 88% of the families accessed at least some of the recommended services, more than 50% failed to access all of the recommended aftercare services. The most often noted barriers to service use were enabling factors at the agency or community level. Yet, many of the services were used, and the respondents indicated that professionals played a role in helping them link to services. Researchers should continue to study the use of recommended aftercare services and the relationship between aftercare service use and clinical outcomes.