“I hope my voice is heard.”: A mixed-methods study of youths’ perceptions of residential care

Highlights

There is a lack of robust knowledge on how youth placed in residential care view their care experiences.
We used mixed methods to evaluate residential care experiences among a large sample of youth (N = 450) in 127 residential settings.
Most youth rated the quality of their placements positively.
Youth in residential care settings using family-style and shift-care models rated their placements more highly than youth in shelter care.
Youth reported establishing meaningful relationships, achieving positive skill development, and struggling with environmental restrictions.