Use a red team to prevent placements in group homes

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About this recommendation

Fewer youth will enter group homes if there is a team dedicated to finding alternative placements. A red team should be a diverse group of agency staff, who conduct kin research, construct a genogram, and ask youth directly about possible placements. The team should be empowered to rapidly brainstorm, make decisions, and pursue alternatives to group home placements.

How to do this

  • Assemble a diverse team. Strong team members will have a reputation for problem solving. Appoint a senior leader for the team.
  • Formally state the goal. The goal of the red team is to find an alternative placement to group homes for every youth.
  • Require a red team meeting before any youth can be placed in a group home. You may require a meeting before additional scenarios, such as placing a youth out of state or placing a youth in a general foster home with other unrelated youth.
  • Ask about connections. As part of their process, the red team should construct a genogram and plan to ask youth about possible placement options.

Anticipated costs and benefits

Costs

Benefits

  • Staff time
  • Avoid placing children in general foster care or group homes who have kinship options
  • Staff may be able to increase initial kinship placements
  • Find more kin who can take placement and/or serve as supportive connections for youth

Outcome data

  • Rhode Island has begun to depopulate group homes by requiring a red team before any group placement, or any placement into a home that already has at least one other unrelated foster child.

Who's doing this

1 of 54 states and territories have implemented this recommendation.

  • Rhode Island holds a red team meeting, led by the Chief of Staff of the Department, before a child is placed in a group home or in a general foster home with other unrelated foster youth. As part of the red team, the family finding office conducts kin research, the team constructs a genogram, and they ask the youth directly about possible placement ideas.