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

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 three-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.