For centuries, societies have relied upon residential care settings to provide homes for children, and for much of that period a debate has raged over whether such settings are appropriate places for children to be raised. In recent years this debate has taken on an international dimension as human rights policies have called into question the legitimacy of residential care of children. Unfortunately, the ideological fervor that usually accompanies such discussions prevents a more nuanced understanding of the reasons that countries continue to make use of residential care. Residential Care of Children: Comparative Perspectives fills major gaps in knowledge about residential care and is intended to inform debates within and between nations about the appropriate use of such institutions. Eleven country-specific chapters, written by child welfare experts from around the world, provide an in-depth understanding of the historical development of residential care, the current state of affairs, and predictions for the future. Chapters describe how residential care is defined in each country, how it has evolved over time, factors that have contributed to the observed pattern of development of residential care, and potential concerns for the future. An integrative chapter presents a critical cross-national perspective, identifying common themes and analyzing underlying factors. Seeking to explain rather than cast judgment, Residential Care of Children: Comparative Perspectives will be fruitful reading for policymakers, program administrators, advocates, practitioners, and scholars interested in creating better services for vulnerable children and youth.

Introduction by the Editors, Mark E. Courtney and Dorota Iwaniec 1. Residential Care in Ireland, Robbie Gilligan 2. Residential Care in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Roger Bullock and Dominic McSherry 3. Swedish Residential Care in the Landscape of Out-of- Home Care, Marie Sallnas 4. Residential Care for Children in Romania: A model for child protection reform in Central and Eastern Europe, Ovidiu Gavrilovici 5. Residential Care for Children 'At Risk' in Israel - Current Situation and Future Challenges, Talal Dolev, Dalia Ben Rabi, and Tamar Zemach Marom 6. Residential Care for Children in Botswana, Tapologo Maundeni 7. Residential Care in South Africa, Brian Stout 8. Residential Care in Korea: Past, Present and Future, Bong Joo Lee 9. Residential Programs for Young People in Australia: Their Current Status and Use in Australia, Frank Ainsworth and Patricia Hansen 10. Children and Youth in Institutional care in Brazil: Historical Perspectives and Current Overview, Irene Rizzini and Irma Rizzini 11. Residential Care in the United States of America: Past, Present and Future, Mark E. Courtney and Darcy Hughes-Heuring 12. Looking Backward To See Forward Clearly: A Cross-National Perspective on Residential Care, Mark E. Courtney, Talal Dolev, and Robbie Gilligan

"This is an excellent collection of country case studies of residential care of children, largely in the advanced industrialized countries, their commonalities, and disparities. It provides a splendid picture of what has been the dominant form of child welfare and out-of-home care in these countries and a beginning discussion of the factors that shaped these developments."--Sheila B. Kamerman, DSW Compton Foundation Centennial Professor of Social Work and Co-Director, Institute for Child and Family Policy at Columbia University and Co-Director of the Cross-National Studies Research Program |k No