ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study could not have been carried out without the support and co-operation of many people whose contribution we would like to acknowledge. Special thanks are due to the young people who agreed to us finding out how they had fared, and sometimes also talked with us. The research team learned a great deal from them and their experience and for this we are very grateful. We also very much appreciate the vital contribution of social workers, residential staff and workers in community-based projects who both helped with recruitment and took time to provide key information on their work with the young people and how they had responded. Too many people and agencies were involved for each to be named, but all their support was greatly valued. Secure unit managers were also very helpful in facilitating access to staff and young people and in keeping the research team up to date on service developments within their units. In addition we are grateful to a wide range of professionals and decision makers who agreed to be interviewed for the study. These included social work managers, panel chairs, reporters, head teachers, LAC nurses, mental health specialists and children's rights officers.
The study was made possible through funding from the Scottish Executive Education Department. Throughout the study, the support and advice of research managers and policy staff was invaluable and much appreciated.