DATA WERE GATHERED BY MEANS OF QUESTIONNAIRES SENT TO SELECTED GROUP HOMES. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS REQUESTED: NAME OF FACILITY; AGE RANGE SERVED; SOURCE OF REFERRALS; LEADERSHIP TYPE (HOUSEPARENT, PROFESSIONAL STAFF); MAXIMUM NUMBER OF YOUTH PER UNIT; ASSOCIATION TO A RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTION; NUMBER OF MONTHS (YEARS) IN OPERATION; SOURCES OF FUNDING; ANNUAL OPERATING COST; COST PER CHILD; TYPE OF LIVING UNIT (APARTMENT, HOUSE, DORM, ETC.); AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY; CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION AND ASSOCIATED COMMUNITY AGENCIES. A SECOND QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ENCLOSED REQUESTING A PROFESSIONAL STAFF OR HOUSEPARENT AND THREE RANDOMLY SELECTED RESIDENTS TO IDENTIFY WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A MAJOR STRENGTH (ANY ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM-FACILITY) AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO ELIMINATE OR MODIFY AT THE GROUP HOME. WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD, 15 FACILITIES RESPONDED TO THE PROFILE QUESTIONNAIRE AND 12 TO THE STAFF/RESIDENT PERCEPTION QUESTIONNAIRE. THE RESULTS OF THESE QUESTIONNAIRES ARE SUMMARIZED. BASED ON THE RESULTS, SEVERAL AREAS ARE SUGGESTED THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN ESTABLISHING A GROUP HOME. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)