The three broad categories of residential group care settings are those that seek to provide custodial "support" services to enable other, essentially unrelated processes to take place ("incidental" group care settings); those that seek to use the group care setting to help eliminate residential "traits" that are perceived as undesirable ("remedial" settings); and those that seek to use the setting more broadly to promote some sort of socialization ("socialized" settings). Early child and youth care settings are largely in the "incidental" group care category. "Remedial" settings have given way to socialized settings that provide alternative opportunities for achievement, self-governance, and belongingness. The risks of socialized residential settings include cultural and family severance and cultural homogenization. 2 notes, 51 references. (Author abstract modified)