Group Care for Children: an Emergent Perspective

Abstract

[This paper outlines the concept of group care as it relates to services for children and youth. It begins with a consideration of group care as an occupational focus, identifying those structural and social variables which distinguish this focus from others. Group care is then identified as a field of study, highlighting the extent to which group care structures have developed as society's response to social problems and human needs. Finally, consideration is given to group care as a practice domain where the services of large institutions, residential group living and day care facilities can be located across society's four major resource networks, including the health care, education, social welfare and justice systems.]