Physical abuse, neglect, abandonment, drug problems, alcohol problems, and sexual abuse are just some of the reasons a child may be removed from his or her birth home. Understandably the child is often afraid, angry, confused, and heart-broken from the events that led to their removal. Also, some foster children have special needs, such as emotional, behavioral, physical, or developmental problems.
Foster care homes provide temporary out-of-home care for children who have suffered the plight of abuse and neglect and are not able to live with their own birth family. Foster parents must be able to work cooperatively with birth family members, teachers, attorneys, social workers, doctors, and other agency officials.
Foster parents are not there to replace the child's birth family, but do assume many of the roles of the child's parents and must provide for the child's needs beyond food and shelter. These needs include, but are not limited to: support, encouragement, reassurance, self-esteem, self-worth, security, structure and most importantly, love.
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Adoption
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