This study analyzed burnout levels in social workers working in residential placements for at-risk children and youth. It found that the social workers experienced burnout in the dimensions of emotional exhaustion and personal achievement. The work climate was found to influence workers' motivation. Significant predictors of emotional exhaustion included perceived stressors like time pressures and role conflicts, as well as inadequate professional training. Depersonalization, the most complex burnout dimension, had various significant predictors including age, sex, perceived stress sources, and coping styles. The results suggest attention should be paid to reducing stressors and improving training to help prevent burnout in these social workers.