Shared family care involves the planned provision of out-of-home care to parents and their children so that the parent and the host caregivers simultaneously share the care of the children and work toward independent in-home care by the parent. This article, a chapter from the book Family Foster Care in the Next Century, describes several innovative types of shared family care arrangements that demonstrate promise in the protection of children and the promotion of family well-being. Emphasis is placed on the shared family foster care model, including its key elements, funding, and evaluation.
