What is "foster care"?

What is "foster care"?

Jennifer Perry (Executive Director, Children's Action Network) gives expert video advice on: Under what circumstances does a child become "custody of the state"?; Are foster parents the same as adoptive parents?; What happens to children who aren't adopted? and more...

Foster care refers to a situation in which a biological parent is unable to take care of their child, for a variety of reasons, ranging from neglect to substance abuse. The child is removed from the biological parent and placed in the custody of the state. The state assumes the parenting responsibilities for that child so that they can be adequately cared for. Foster care is intended to be a temporary process, whereby the child can be removed from the biological parent for his or her safety, and a period of time is set in motion where it can be assessed as to whether the child can be returned to those parents. Those parents' parental rights may need to be terminated and the child would be freed for adoption.