1. What is foster care?
2. What are some of the advantages of becoming a foster parent?
3. What are some of the disadvantages of becoming a foster parent?
4. What are the criteria for becoming a foster parent?
5. Is foster care available to relatives?

Foster care is a temporary arrangement for children who are removed from their homes and found to be dependents of the court. Guardians may become foster parents. The following questions are designed to help you figure out if becoming a foster parent is available or desirable in your situation.

2. What are some of the advantages of becoming a foster parent?

The advantages of foster care arrangements are that grants are generally higher and special services are available, including a special program for young adults (at age 18) to set up their own households. The goal of foster care is to assist parents reunify with their children or, if this is not possible, to create a permanent plan for placement of the child either through adoption, guardianship or long term care.

3. What are some of the disadvantages of becoming a foster parent?

Social workers must review the placement twice a year. You may not want social workers involved in your family life.

4. What are the criteria for becoming a foster parent?

Foster care approval is based, among other things, on whether or not anyone in the house has been convicted of a felony, whether there is sufficient bedroom space, whether the home is safe and other factors related to the welfare of the child.

5. Is foster care available to relatives?