Foster Care Placement

Abstract

Chapter 9 provides a description of the various types of placement options (e.g., relative/kinship, nonrelative family placement, in-home, congregate care, etc.) and the frequency and trends related to placement. This chapter discusses policies that inform placement options and decision-making. The chapter describes child removal and placement process. This chapter also discusses the importance of placement in least restrictive environments, with siblings, with family/kin, culturally appropriate settings, and in homes closest to a child’s neighborhood and school. It provides research about placement stability and strategies for finding and promoting the best placements based on the child’s needs. It describes the process of recruiting, training, and licensing foster parents.