Does Shared Family Care work? A study on families discharged between 2016 and 2021 from an Italian residential program

Shared Family Care (SFC) accommodates vulnerable parents and their children together in out-of-home settings. In line with the core objectives of the child welfare system, this service ensures the growth of children in a safe and supervised environment and prevents family separation by supporting parenting skills. Despite its considerable expansion, SFC is still under-documented, and descriptions of program models, populations served, and outcomes achieved are lacking. This case study addresses this gap by presenting data from an Italian SFC program implemented in a residential care setting. Its theoretical and methodological approach is described and data on family characteristics, interventions, and outcomes are provided based on archival records of 59 families discharged from 2016 to 2021. Analyses were conducted to explore factors associated with program outcomes and to provide suggestions for program improvement. Results reveal that the interventions implemented and the presence of protective factors, rather than the weight of family problems or risk factors, significantly influence positive outcomes. Despite the absence of a control group, the program’s results appear promising, and the study offers four practical recommendations for further improving the program.