The editorial by Butler and McPherson (
2007) focused on understanding residential treatment and its role in the continuum of services provided to youths with mental health needs. The authors provided a solid review of the historical and current social, economic and political context within which residential treatment programs operate. They identified the key challenges facing residential treatment as a service system and a field of research. Ultimately, the authors argued for a definition that would build consensus around what is residential treatment and how it can be differentiated from other interventions provided to youths with mental health needs. …