The Perceptions and Satisfactions of Youth in Residential Care with Two Caregiving Models

Former residents (N = = 76) of a residential facility were interviewed 1 year after discharge to solicit their perceptions and degree of satisfaction with houseparent and child care worker models of caregiving. Youth expressed higher satisfaction with houseparents than child care workers. Houseparents were preferred because they provided consistency and a family atmosphere, and they were less likely to leave employment. However, some youth expressed dissatisfaction with house-parents because of greater demands for intimacy from them, and their resentment over someone trying to assume their biological parents role. Findings suggest that residential centers should consider using houseparents or redesign child care worker jobs so they contain some of the advantages that youth identified with houseparents.