The Most Commonly Asked Questions about Fostering

Question: How long does a foster child stay in a foster home?
Answer: The length of a foster child's placement depends on many factors. The County Children and Youth Agency must determine whether or not the child's birth parents are in a position to provide a safe and secure environment. There are specific requirements that parents must meet before a child can return home. Whatever the County Children and Youth Agency determines, that information will be presented to a judge. Ultimately, the court system will reach a decision. There are foster children who can be in foster care for as short as a month or as long as many years.

Currently, there are new laws in place to better protect the rights of children. Children who have been in foster care far too long are now getting the opportunity to be adopted. This means that the birth parents parental rights are terminated because they have not been able to meet the specific expectations established by the County Children and Youth Agency, and the court system.

Question: What type of contact will my foster child have with his/her birth family?
Answer: The County Children and Youth Agency determines the amount and type of contact a foster child has with his/her birth family. Usually, visits occur from one time per week to one time per month. Depending on the circumstances surrounding a child's need for placement, visits range from taking place in a supervised office setting to unsupervised home visits. Many foster children have arranged telephone contact with the birth family as well.

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