Foster Care Parenting and Adoption FAQs

Are you new to foster care or thinking about becoming a foster parent? You can explore the answers to some of the most commonly asked foster care questions.

Can’t find the question on your mind? Try our keyword Search feature or browse through a list of FAQs tailored for prospective foster parents in your state.

Frequently Asked Questions About Foster Parenting & Adoption

  • Foster mother and child on a beach in her arms
    Foster care is a temporary arrangement for children who can't stay with their birth families or primary caregivers. Children enter the foster care system when the U.S. child welfare system determines their home conditions are unsafe. These situations often arise when there is a family crisis, such…
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  • A foster family of three holding a house in front of the sun ?
    What do Coco Chanel, Marilyn Monroe, Eddie Murphy, Cher, and Simone Biles have in common? All grew up as children in foster care. Many foster kids live happy, fulfilling lives and successfully pursue their dreams. At times, entering foster care is a child's first chance to find a solid path forward…
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  • Responsibilities of a foster parent
    Strong Foster Child Support Teams Include Foster Parents Child welfare advocates say foster children need a loving, safe foster home care environment. Along with that fundamental responsibility of nurturing foster care placement, children in the foster care system need extra support. The primary…
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  • Are there children waiting for foster homes?
    A foster child faces difficult times in their young life. A child entering foster care is already managing the situation that brought them into the child welfare system. The upheaval of leaving their home adds another layer of emotional strain. After the chaos, youth in foster care have to deal…
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  • American flag with a judges gavel in front of it
    Approximately 80 million Americans have some criminal record. That's one-third of the total population. These individuals often face a stigma when trying to get their lives back on track, making crucial everyday tasks like finding employment much harder. If you have a criminal record, you may have…
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  • What is an emergency or a planned placements in Foster care
    Imagine that a child is at risk of immediate harm. Your first reaction would be to take them out of that situation and prevent them from danger. Unfortunately, these situations happen every day. Child welfare services identify children who are in a dangerous environment and moves them to an…
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  • two foster parents and three kids hugging
    The United States is trying to handle a nationwide shortage of foster families, and it isn't easy. Recruiting foster parents takes time, and interested applicants must complete a months-long process to get their licenses. You can change the course of a foster child's life by becoming a licensed…
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