Residential Care for Youth in the Child Welfare System: Stop-Gap Option or Not?

• NCJ Number: 238398
• Journal: Residential Treatment for Children & Youth Volume: 29 Issue: 1 Dated: January - March 2012 Pages: 48-65
• Author(s): Sigrid S. James, Ph.D., M.S.W.; Jin Jin Zhang, M.S.; John Lansverk, Ph.D.
• Date Published: February 2012
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): K01 MH077732-01A1
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study used national data to derive estimates of length of stay in residential care for a subsample of youth.

Abstract

This study provides national estimates for length of stay in residential care and examines within-group variability along salient predictors. Using data from the National Study on Child and Adolescent Well-Being, the sample included 254 youth with episodes in residential care. Descriptive analyses provided estimates for length of stay over the 3-year study period. Negative binomial regression was used to examine the effect of predictor variables on length of stay. Results indicate that a minority of youth experienced short stays in residential care. Chronic health problems and a greater number of placements were associated with longer stays. Implications for practice and research are discussed. (Published Abstract)