Foster Care | Better Care Network

Foster Care

The term “foster care” is used in a variety of ways, and, consequently, it often causes confusion and miscommunication. In the industrialized world it is generally used to refer to formal, temporary placements made by the State with families that are trained, monitored and compensated at some level. In many developing countries, however, fostering is kinship care or other placement with a family, the objective(s) of which may include the care of the child, the child’s access to education, and/or the child’s doing some type of work for the foster family.

Such care is informal and unregulated by the State. Foster care can also be understood as formal care, typically provided by adults who are not related to the child, but may include formalized kinship care. It is usually for a limited period until the child can return home or move into a more permanent placement such as adoption.

In emergency situations, such as armed conflict, informal fostering often occurs spontaneously when a family takes in an unaccompanied child. Also, in some emergency situations, agencies have organized a quasi-formal type of foster care to ensure immediate, family-based care for unaccompanied children. Such foster care should be formally arranged by the local authority or child protection organisation and include assessing each child’s best interests; screening, training, and monitoring of caretakers; and planning for the longer term needs of each child.

Foster care can provide the advantages of family-based care within a child’s own community. In some situations, particularly spontaneous care initiated during an emergency, it can become de facto adoption in settings where State child protection services and formalization of care arrangements are very limited or do not exist.

Foster care plays an important role in a situation where a child’s own family is not providing adequately for his or her care. It can provide protection and care for the child while the family situation is improved, with the eventual aim of family reunification.

It is vital that children are provided opportunities to express their wishes and concerns regarding with whom they live and have contact. The appointment of a legal guardian is a means of ensuring their opinions are taken into account.

Foster caretakers often receive support to meet the child’s needs and prevent placement breakdown. This may include parenting guidance and access to basic services for the child. Payment for care requires thoughtful consideration and should not encourage the separation of children from their families, or the use of a child for financial gain. All placements should be regulated to ensure the standards of care protect the child and encourage her development.

This body of literature provides examples from around the world of spontaneous, informal and formal fostering. It includes guidance on standards of care and child care policy.

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The socioemotional development of orphans in orphanages and traditional foster care in Iraqi Kurdistan

Abdulbaghi Ahmad and Kirmanj Mohamad, 06 Mar 1996

In order to investigate orphans' situation and development in Iraqi Kurdistan, samples from the two available orphan care systems, the traditional foster care and the modem orphanages, are examined at an index test and at 1-year follow-u

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Guidelines for Foster Care. Proposed Training Outline

International Foster Care Organization (IFCO), 1995

A training outline that conveys IFCO values and ethics of practice in foster care services. It provides 13 modules dealing with issues such as the rights of the child, child development, state care, foster care, transition from care, and legal and administrative management of child protection services.

Temporary Family Care (Foster Care) Service Manual

Marilyn Manuel, 1995

A manual for the establishment of foster care in Romania as an alternative to the institutional placement of children. Addresses the legal framework, policies, processes, responsibilities and administration surrounding creating and maintaining a foster care system.

Guidelines for Foster Care

International Foster Care Organization (IFCO), 1995

Guidelines for foster care, developed by IFCO at a special Working Group Meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand from 1-4 May 1995 in cooperation with the Department of Public Welfare, Bangkok.

Guidelines for Foster Care

International Foster Care Organization (IFCO) , 1995

Procedural standards outlining the roles and responsibilities of fsoter care authorities and agencies.

What We Know about the Effects of Foster Care

Thomas McDonald, Reva Allen, Alex Westerfelt, and Irving Piliavin , 1992

This article, published in the book ‘Assessing the Long-Term Effects of Foster Care: A Research Synthesis,’ provides an overview of the history of the foster care system in the United States and findings from multiple studies on the effects of foster care on children.

Hong Kong Alternative Care Case Study

Martin James Foundation,

As part of phase one of the development of the Martin James Foundation's Asia Care Network, comprehensive studies of the care system in each country were conducted to highlight the need for developing alternative care systems across South-East Asia. This case study highlights relevant data from Hong Kong.

How can mental health practitioners collaborate with child welfare practitioners to improve mental health for young people in out of home care?

Katherine Monson, Helen Herrman, Kristen Moeller‐Saxone, Cathy Humphreys, Carol Harvey - Early Intervention in Psychiatry,

This substudy aimed to contribute to a larger study—the Ripple project—through exploring the experiences of practitioners working across child welfare and mental health services regarding collaboration in the care of young people; and to identify practices that might enhance collaborative work and improve mental health outcomes.

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All Children - All Families: LGBTQ Resources for Child Welfare Professionals

Human Rights Campaign,

This page from the Human Rights Campaign provides a list of resources for child welfare professionals working with LGBTQ youth and families.

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Vietnam Alternative Care Case Study

Martin James Foundation,