Using Congregate Care: What the Evidence Tells Us
Despite long-standing criticisms and the preference for less restrictive placement settings, congregate care remains an important component of the care continuum used to meet the complex behavioral and mental health needs of children and youth who cannot live at home (Dinges et al., 2008; Blau et al., 2014; Butler & McPherson, 2007; Whittaker et al., 2016). High-quality, tailored congregate care placements with strong program models and highly qualified practitioners do serve as an important placement alternative for children and youth with complex clinical needs who require a short-term stay in a treatment facility (Blau et al., 2014; Daly et al., 2018; James, 2011). The 2018 Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), which alters federal policy concerning congregate care, preserves the appropriate use of congregate care through an emphasis on family-based placements and the development of qualified residential treatment programs (QRTPs). Against this backdrop, we aim to answer the following four… Read more >