I don't know about group homes, never used them. We have done "theraputic" foster care - but that's not the same thing.
I've done Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) with B and D - B twice, D is currently in his 2nd. Here's my personal take on Residential Treatment Facility (RTF):
1. If the kid isn't willing to do any work or willing to make a change, it's not going to do anything
2. You will want to ask ALOT of questions (there's some good ones in the Archives here) before going, and throughout the stay, make sure that they are doing what they SAY they're going to do
3. Rules change. One staff says things are one way, then another staff on another shift says something else. Very aggravating - and this has been typical in all 4 that I've experienced.
4. If you get an Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) with a contracted out psychiatrist (that is, they are not part of staff, they just come say, once a week or twice a week for several hours) you can forget any type of 1:1 adequate care. You want to find a place that has an on board psychiatrist, meaning (like the one D is in now) they are there FULL TIME. The psychiatrist at the last Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) D was at saw him 7 minutes once a month. He was not beneficial, nor did he do us any good.
5. They will get all this fun - trips and activities to keep them busy from the time they get up until the time they get to bed. D's day is school from 8-3:30, then group (video games, recreational stuff like pool or b-ball) until 4:15, then medications. Then supper. Then movie time until 6:45, then shower. Then snack. Then another group (music/dance therapy), then video games, then bed. Now, when he comes home, how in the name of GOD am I going to keep up with THAT when he comes home? LOL! I dunno.....
6. The good thing is, if you get a GOOD Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) - they can make recommendations for you if you're in a position that you're roadblocked. For example, school recommendations if your child is struggling and you have nowhere to go. Things like Occupational Therapist (OT), PT. They can recommend you get in home services (i.e. Family Based) and refer you to places that can help you more (like Mental Health/Mental Retardation) and qualified psychiatrists. We are getting a referral for D for an MRI/FMRI/EEG due to excessive head banging throughout his life. I couldn't ever get that from anyone else. Also, they could refer/recommend (or if they have on staff) for a neuropsychological, which I know alot of people have a very hard time getting and finding.
7. They get social skills, learn how to get along with peers and learn how to live with others besides you. Now, this can be good, or can bite you in the rear end, depending on the other children in the Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) and your kid. D, he is learning quickly what it's like to live in a house with someone that is constantly raging and screaming. I'm glad. His roomie curses, is disrespectful, tantrums for hours, etc. Good. I'm glad (oops already said that LOL). How does it feel, D? It s*cks, doesn't it? Of course, he has 100 excuses why it's ok for him and not this roomie, but oh well - too bad, learn to live with it, that's what we've had to do. And, yes, now you wonder why everyone is always "grouchy". Hmm. But, in B's case, he was in an Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) with kids that were convicted offenders - i.e. drug pushers (majority) and some other things like theft (B was in for theft). He came out thinking he was a Lil Wayne lookalike (this kid is whiter than a ghost), thug master jammer...haha (really, funny - not trying to offend anyone). He was living in a residence with a bunch of street tough thugs from Philly and Baltimore. He's a pretty white boy from the country. He came outta there a totally different person - so *shrug*. And it didn't really do anything for him, because by 17, I feel he is what he is. He told them what they wanted to hear, manipulated them good - and now he's out. Whatever.
8. There are good Residential Treatment Facility (RTF)'s with alternative therapies that are very promising. The one D is in now is doing this Allied Therapy (it's for kids on the Spectrum) with dance and music and movement. It's very, VERY cool. Never would have gotten that from our normal therapist. They also do things specific to the child, i.e. anger management groups, stress management groups, etc. You want THOSE types of groups and therapies, in my opinion, as opposed to art therapy and pet therapy. Those things are bogus. I mean, if you have a kid that's beating on animals, yes, pet therapy would be OK. But, in D's last Residential Treatment Facility (RTF), he got all that - art, equine, horticultural and pet therapies, and they didn't do SQUAT other than get him out of school for 45 minutes and he made me a really cool rock thing with gems for my garden - and learned to like their cat. Whoooo. Blah.
That's really all I have off the top of my head. We've been through OK Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) and cruddy, so I could probably write a book if I sat here, LOL! I think that either place would probably have a benefit if it was suited to your child. Just make sure you WRITE DOWN all your questions, get them answered before you make a decision, and tour wherever you're considering and see what's going on.
Good luck with it all. It's stressful.