Types of Foster Families

There are many places that a child who has been removed from their biological home may find themselves.  There is a team of people within Family Services aptly named, "The Home Finding Unit".  These are avenues and terms they will utilize. These all fall under the foster care umbrella.                               

Resource Parent (RP)-This is anyone being considered to provide care for a child coming into care, or a child who is already in care. This can be someone who comes forward and wishes to take responsibility, or it can be someone who is recommended by the birth parent.  If approved, and then vetted, the RP then takes specialized kinship classes or regular foster care classes while they have the child in their home. 

Kinship Care-Since The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 and then being reinforced by the Obama Administration, almost all homefinding units within Family Services have a team of people dedicated to finding someone known to the child(ren) coming into care.  This is important for a variety of reasons. 

• Lesser trauma being experienced by the child as the new home/family is familiar to him/her

• Allowed interaction with extended family and/or birth parents as kinship families can supervise visitation

• Stronger initial connection to the child and the case itself

• More support for the kinship family through programs such as, "Caring for our own"

Foster Care-Straight foster care is needed when there is not an appropriate RP available.  Foster parents must pass background, health and home checks.  Once approved and training classes are over, they will start receiving calls to have children placed in the home.  A RP can still be acquired, and will be actively sought out during the child's placement. 

Guardianship/Custody-While kinship and foster care are handled through Family Services, guardianship and custody are handled by the courts. The petitioner is granted authority over the child as the temporary or permanent parent.