Defining Group Care Programs

Summary

This paper makes a clear case for revolutionizing reporting standards for group care programs. Readers will learn how the field’s current approach paints an all-to-generic picture of programs while failing to define what works—and what doesn’t—in terms of serving today’s youth. New comprehensive standards, introduced in this report, can both expand what we know about group care practice and inject some much-needed nuance into this muddied field. 

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Background
• A Reporting Standards Model
• Proposed Group Care Reporting Standards
• Conclusions
• Table 1. Group Care Reporting Standards
• References

Key Takeaway

The spectrum of group care programs is endless. Our knowledge of these programs? Not so much

Group care programs take many different paths—and assume many different shapes and sizes—in fulfilling their shared mission of caring for children. Understanding these differences is critical to charting a path forward and utilizing these programs for the greatest good.