A Critical Dialogue on Residential Care for Children and Youth: What We Really Know and Questions of Quality

Abstract

ABSTRACT The conventional belief that residential care is harmful to children and youth held by many organizations and individuals has been challenged in a recent book reviewing a broad range of the recent empirical literature. In a dialogue format, we discuss the historical context in which the book developed, its key points, and the implications and questions it raises about providing and supporting high quality residential care. The negative view of residential care has its roots in the inappropriate generalization of research results on infants and very young children in deprived environments to older children in more enriched environments. The research on residential care for children and youth shows that the quality of care is more important than its site. Research also highlights the features of care that are most important to high quality, including the centrality of sensitive, reciprocal positive relationships. We offer some “wicked questions” that can be used by practitioners in their reflections on the care they provide and to begin to change the international conversation about residential care.