NCJ Number
130928
Date Published
1990
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study of children's residential services in Virginia presents data on the number of children in residential care, their demographics, their characteristics and behaviors, and expenditures.
Abstract
There were 4,993 children in residential care during fiscal year 1988. They were predominantly older adolescents from 14 to 19 years old. Approximately 40 percent of the children in care during fiscal year 1988 were minorities. Eighty-nine percent of the residents were reported to have emotional or behavioral problems; approximately 77 percent had serious problems in school; and 68 percent had been adjudicated delinquent. Twenty-nine percent were adjudicated as "children in need of services." Fifty-eight percent were reported to exhibit verbal or physically assaultive or aggressive behavior. Nearly half of the children were reported to have problems with alcohol or other substance abuse. In fiscal year 1988, 55 percent of gross expenditures were for psychiatric or secure placements; less than 20 percent of expenditures were for placements in small community group homes. 9 figures