Structural problems in institutional care for youth

In examining the relationship of emotional responsiveness and authoritarianism to the success of child welfare institutions as measured by running away behavior structural factors relating to both are discussed. The emotional deficit of the care giving situation seems to be a factor related to running away. Authoritarianism was not a related factor. Though both runaways and nonrunaways rated the institutional experience to be less emotionally responsive than their families, workers and runaways rated runaways experience as the least emotionally responsive. This is thought to relate to both runaways history and the consistency and continuity of caregivers. This further points to a pressing need for child welfare programs to greatly increase continuity of care and positive emotional contact between youth and caregivers. Individuation of youth in group living situations and foster care is crucial to their benefitting from such programs.