ABSTRACT
Child and youth care stands at the threshold of a development in which the movement to full professional status involves, among other things, the initiation of and participation in, descriptive, taxonomic, evaluative and follow-up research of programs for children and youth. It is argued, in particular, that if progress is to be made, then there must be a fit between carefully-designed programs and clearly-defined client groups. This principle is illustrated by a taxonomic analysis of data on 518 residents at two residential centers for emotionally-disturbed children and youth. A special study has been made of 58 adopted children within this population: these 58 children can be allocated to at least eight different groups, each identifying a different pattern of adoption breakdown and psychological need in the child. The implications for child care programming are discussed.
