A comparative approach to public chiidcare for children living away from home in germany and england

An analysis of the quantitative dimension of public chiidcare services shows that in Germany more than twice as many children receive help away from home than in England. Moreover, there is a great discrepancy in the relative use of foster and residential care, which illustrates a different placement policy in the two countries. This paper analyses reasons and possible explanations for the different use of chiidcare services. The influence of professional standards, as well as the pressure to constrain expenditure, are discussed and compared. Finally, a comparative analysis is used to illustrate and evaluate the consequences of patterns of placement in the two countries.