Congregate care in the United States

According to Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, children are required to have a case plan that aims to place them in the most appropriate and least restrictive settings that supports their wellbeing and needs.

[3] A 2015 report by the Department of Health and Human Services revealed that states are not consistently lessening the use of congregate care and that more information is required.

[3] Some children are placed in congregate care because they are thought to be in need of behavioral or mental health support services, or because they have a clinical disability.

[1] In 2013 out of all children in congregate in the United States, 36% had a mental health disorder, 45% had behavioral issues, 10% had a disability, and 28% did not have any clinical labels.

[4] According to officials, depending on the state there are anywhere between 5 and 32 percent of children who are placed in such settings that are not in need of such high surveillance.