The purpose of the foster care program is to provide temporary placements for children who cannot remain with their birth parents or caretakers because of some identified stress in their lives. Foster Care is designed to provide appropriate services to the respective parties involved so that eventually the child can be returned to his or her birth parents/caretakers. If it is determined, after appropriate assessment and consultation, that the child’s return cannot be achieved within a reasonable period of time, then permanent alternatives are sought as soon as possible.

Contributors Choice #66