Every child deserves to grow up in a home where he or she feels safe and part of a loving, nurturing family. In the unfortunate instance where a child is removed from a home due to abuse or neglect and placed in the foster care system, there are two primary options for placement: a family-based setting or a group home or institution, often referred to as “congregate care.” Research shows family-based care is a better option for children placed in foster care, as well as less costly for the child welfare system and, in turn, for the commonwealth’s taxpayers.
