Child welfare agencies temporarily remove children from their parents if the children have experienced neglect, abuse or other safety concerns. Foster parents care for these children in their own homes while the state determines whether the children can return to their parents' custody or live permanently with other relatives. In some situations, known as kinship care, the child's relatives can also temporarily serve as foster parents.
Role
Foster families take care of children placed with them for a temporary period, which can last for a few days up to many years. During this time, the state's child welfare agency retains legal custody while the agency works with the child's parents to decide whether the child can return home permanently. If the parents cannot regain custody through the state's child welfare agency and courts, the agency must determine another permanent placement for the child, such as adoption. Foster parents receive regular payments from the state to cover the costs of having the children in their homes. The payment amount depends on whether the child has any special needs.
Qualifications
Any adult can apply to be a foster parent, but must meet the specific qualifications set under each state's laws. Every adult in the household must generally pass a criminal background check and meet a minimum standard for overall health. The household also undergoes a home study, which usually includes an evaluation of the family's home environment and interviews with the prospective foster parents. Applicants may also need to submit the names of several personal references who can confirm their good character and moral standing. The foster care agency will consider all of the submitted information and decide whether the applicant can provide a safe environment for children.
Training and Support
All child welfare agencies have training requirements, which may include classes on child development, parenting, the foster care system, court procedures and legal issues. Foster parents who care for children with extra medical or emotional needs or behavioral disorders must go through additional, specialized training known as therapeutic foster care or treatment foster care training. These foster parents may also receive additional support throughout the placement, such as help from licensed nurses.
Foster Parent Adoption
Foster parents do not have any legal obligations to formally adopt the children in their care or extend a child's stay beyond the agency's placement. Some foster parents do, however, choose to pursue adoption. When the state decides that a child should not return to her birth parents or other relatives, she may benefit from foster parent adoption if she has already developed a positive relationship with her foster parents. As part of the adoption, the foster parent assumes full legal custody and full financial responsibility for the child. The foster family must work with the foster care agency to follow the state's child welfare laws and formal adoption procedures.
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