Group and institutional placements

Of the approximately 413,540 children in foster care, about 42,862 reside in group and institutional placement facilities. While group and institutional placements play a role in an effective continuum of care, there is consensus across the field that all children and youth, especially infants and toddlers, do best in families.

Over the last decade, there has been a 29 percent reduction in the number of children living in group and institutional placement settings nationwide. The Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 incentivizes states to reduce placement of children in group and institutional settings by placing limitations on federal funding reimbursement, and articulating expectations for quality. Continued investments are needed to ensure the safe and appropriate reduction of group and institutional placements and the development of a robust continuum of care that can serve children in family-based settings.

FEATURED RESOURCES

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Ending the need for group placements

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Can we re-envision residential care?

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How is Santa Clara County, Calif., moving to safely eliminate group and institutional placements?

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Please explore the related resources below and at Questions from the field to learn more about group and institutional placement settings.