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Objectives: Residential Youth Care (RYC) is still considered a “black box”. Research continues to focus on the results that are achieved, but more insight is necessary to show how these results are achieved for different groups of residents. We refer to this principle as the “what works for whom” principle. By examining more closely the process of change in the RYC treatment process, we could be able to more accurately identify factors associated with facilitation or obstruction of a positive outcome. One of the most basic elements necessary for treatment success is the interpersonal environment (in this study termed social climate) that adolescents and staff in RYC are a continuous part of. Up until now, no review studies summarizing the knowledge about the effects of social climate have been available. Such a review could improve our understanding, which in turn could improve the processes and outcomes of RYC institutions and their treatment programs. In this paper, we aim to systematically review the current literature on associations between determinants and outcomes of social climate in RYC. Our goal is to answer the following questions: (1) Which determinants are related to a positive and a negative social climate? (2) How are aspects of social climate associated with positive and negative outcomes of RYC? Method: We carried out a systematic review search and included peer-reviewed studies from 1990 until 2016. The studies had to include a measure of social climate and focus on youths between the ages of 12 to 23 in RYC institutions. We searched ten databases with a selection of keywords to adhere to the person, institution type, social climate, determinants, and outcomes (PICO) model. Exclusion criteria were studies that focused on foster care, school settings, medical care, outpatient care, or a combination of outpatient care and RYC. We analyzed data in Distiller Systematic Review according to predefined decision forms. Results and conclusions: Results indicate that social climate differs between institution type, and that different trajectories can be established between determinants, social climate and treatment outcomes. The findings from this study highlight the importance of shaping environments that match the heterogeneous groups of adolescents living in RYC. More empirical research is needed to identify how RYC institutions can be less a “black box” by identifying how the social climate in the institutions affects treatment outcomes for the adolescents.

While there is a large difference in the number of young inhabitants in the Netherlands and Germany, their child protection frameworks are quite similar. In both countries, child protection services are mainly focused on youth aged 0 to 18 and regulations are aimed at clients' responsibility and their active involvement during care. Youth care services consist of community-based services, day treatment and outof-home care services, which include foster care and residential care. The history of out-of-home care services in both countries is characterized by similar developments. Over the last four decades, similar trends in residential care, towards more small-scale forms of residential care, smaller residential group sizes, and increasing professionalization of staff have emerged. Over the last two decades, a comparable trend towards increasing professionalization can be seen in the context of foster care in both countries. In addition, the number of youths in out-of-home care increased in both countries over the last decade, specifically in foster care. Over the last decade, more studies have been conducted in residential care than in foster care in both countries. Despite similar trends and developments in out-of-home care practice, research mainly shows differences in applied topics and methods between Germany and the Netherlands. A pesar de la gran diferencia en el número de habitantes jóvenes entre Holanda y Alemania, sus estructuras de protección de la infancia son muy semejantes. Los servicios de protección de la infancia en ambos países se centran fundamentalmente en los jóvenes entre 0 y 18 años y la reglamentación va dirigida a la responsabilidad de los clientes y su compromiso activo durante el acogimiento. Los servicios de protección a los jóvenes constan de servicios comunitarios, el tratamiento de día y los servicios de proteccion con separación familiar, que abarcan el acogimiento familiar y residencial. La historia de los servicios que implican separación familiar en ambos países se caracteriza por desarrollos semejantes. En los últimos cuatro decenios han surgido tendencias semejantes en el acogimiento residencial más encaminadas a modos de acogimiento a pequeña escala, menor tamaño de los grupos residenciales y una mayor profesionalización del personal. En los dos últimos decenios puede apreciarse una tendencia comparable hacia una mayor profesionalización en el contexto del acogimiento en ambos países. En el último decenio se han llevado a cabo más estudios sobre acogimiento residencial que sobre acogimiento familiar en ambos países. A pesar de las tendencias y desarrollos semejantes en la práctica de las medidas de protección con separación familiar, la investigación muestra principalmente diferencias entre Alemania y Holanda principalmente en los temas y métodos aplicados.