 Foster Care
Children who cannot be safely maintained in their homes are removed and placed into temporary care, usually in foster family homes. Foster care accounts for the largest share of the $20 billion that states and the federal government spend annually on child welfare services. Prolonged stays and frequent moves in foster care can be severely detrimental to children's well-being. Accordingly, state and federal laws in recent years have focused on expediting the permanent placement of children, either through reunification with their caregivers or through adoption or guardianship. Emerging issues in foster care include recruiting and retaining foster parents, ensuring that foster children receive an adequate education and independent living services for foster youth who are preparing for the transition to adulthood.
Foster Care Publications Child Welfare |