Does Shared Residential Care ensure family participation? A national study on parental and program factors and effects on outcomes

Family-Centered Practice (FCP) is recognized as a best practice in child welfare, emphasizing the active participation of families in decision-making and care planning. Even when children are considered at-risk and placed in residential settings, parental involvement in daily activities and care processes has been associated with positive outcomes (Geurts et al., 2012). Shared Residential Care (SRC) is an innovative program model in which mothers and children co-reside under professional supervision, fostering parenting skills while ensuring child safety. Compared to traditional group homes for children, SRC offers greater opportunities for parental involvement and is therefore regarded as a promising application of FCP (Tang et al., 2024). However, due to the limited body of research on SRC methodologies, approaches, and outcomes, the extent and impact of family participation in these settings remain unclear. Objectives This study examines how different SRC programs inItaly implement family involvement in decision-making,the factors influencing participatory approaches, and the extent to which family involvement affects the outcomes of families transitioning out of SRC. Methods This research is part of a broader national study involving 31 SRC programs across Italy, employing a mixedmethods approach. Data collection included: (1) a questionnaire administered to SRC managers assessing organizational and methodological aspects through both close- and open-ended questions, and (2) a quantitative database tracking the pathways of 790 families in SRC, with information on maternal characteristics, family and communityservices involvement, and exit outcomes. Qualitative data from managers’ responses were analyzed through thematic analysis, while statistical analyses explored associations between family involvement, maternal characteristics, SRC organizational aspects, and family outcomes. Findings The qualitative analysis of managers’ responses revealed varying levels of family participation across Italian SRC programs. The implementation of FCP within these programs was influenced by both individual and organizational factors. At the individual level, mothers experiencing more risk factors and fewer resources were less likely to participate in decision-making processes, in particular, foreign mothers with language barriers and those who had unwanted pregnancies. From an organizational perspective, SRC programs that effectively implemented participatory approaches exhibited key characteristics, including highly trained and interdisciplinary staff, and connections with external family members (e.g., fathers, extended relatives) and community services. Notably, the most participatory programs served the most vulnerable mothers, highlighting the crucial role of program approach in fostering parental involvement despite individual problems. Finally, higher levels of maternal participation were associated with more favorable exit outcomes, with the involvement of both mothers and fathers correlating with improved outcomes for children. Conclusions Merely co-residing mothers and children in SRC does not guarantee the implementation of FCP. Effective parental participation requires structured, high-quality support and active integration with community services. This study underscores the importance of adopting a holistic, bioecological approach to child welfare that extends beyond caring for the mother-child dyad. Findings provide valuable insights for practitioners, emphasizing that family-centered interventions not only improve child and family outcomes but also strengthen broader social networks, facilitating the (re)integration of vulnerable families into the community.