'The black box never sleeps ...'. Inside perspectives on youth placements in residential care

Abstract

The metaphor of the 'black box' has often been used in recent years to refer to characteristics of residential care that - although of pivotal importance - are not sufficiently transparent or known. Considering its importance for positive outcomes and the lack of research on this topic within the context of residential care, the current special issue focuses on the 'components' that facilitate change in behaviour and well-being of youth in residential care through an explicit orientation towards the perspectives and experiences of young people and professionals. This form of study can be called 'voices research'. The included studies present insights on the aspects of the residential youth care process that are important for the development and well-being of the youth in care and, therefore, the outcomes of care. Topics that will be addressed include the youth-adult relationship in residential care; the adolescents' perceptions of participation in secure care; the experience of pain in secure care; clients' and professionals' perspectives on the quality of care; the threats to the therapeutic milieu aspects of residential care; and the discovered benefits of workers' in-service training according to positive parenting practice models.