Evidence summary: Evidence for out-of-home care

Title: Evidence summary: Evidence for out-of-home care
Author: Parenting Research Centre
Published: 2016

This evidence summary draws on a rapid evidence assessment undertaken in 2013 by the Parenting Research Centre and the University of Melbourne on behalf of the Community Services Directorate, Australian Capital Territory Government. The report, Evidence review: Analysis of the evidence for out-of-home care, explored interventions for children and youth in out-of-home care and asked: which interventions are supported by the evidence?

Key findings

• Compared with residential or group care, treatment foster care results in better outcomes for children and young people with difficult behaviour problems.
• Kinship care is as good as, or no worse than, non-related foster care.
• There is little evidence that independent living skills programs help young people leaving foster care.
• Our rapid evidence assessment identified 12 interventions that are potentially effective for children and young people in out-of-home care.

Learn more

• Read the Evidence summary (PDF, 316KB)