The only Singaporean studies investigating the needs of children and youth in care have involved institutionalized male and female youth offenders. However, to the best of the authors' knowledge, no studies profiling the needs of the children and youth placed in out-of-home care for protection or welfare concerns have been conducted in Singapore. In addition, while
previous studies have focused mainly on mental health concerns and abuse history (Chu et al., 2009), no studies to date have investigated strengths or protective factors that may buffer the impact of placement in out-of-home care