Types of Foster Care

The primary goal of foster care at Together for Youth is reunification. Initially, the foster parent’s role is seen as a temporary one. Over half of children who enter foster care are reunified with their birth parents. We ask our foster parents to support these efforts—including facilitating visitations with birth parents and attending court appearances. Although this may not be a permanent situation, as a foster parent, you are making a permanent, positive impact on the life of a child even once they return to their birth parents or are placed with another relative when that is found to be in his or her best interest.

Respite Care

Every parent needs a break. Respite care providers step in to give foster parents needed time off—from a few hours to a weekend or more—usually on a regularly scheduled basis.

Emergency or Urgent Care

Foster parents agree to be on-call and to accept short term placements as the need arises, including at night and on the weekends.

Kinship Care

Grandparents, aunts and uncles, family members, or a community member who has a significant relationship with the child, who agree to care for children are called “kinship” caregivers. 

Foster-to-Adopt Care

Although reunification is the primary goal, that is not always possible. Many families foster with the intention of possibly adopting. Fostering to adopt has many benefits, including reducing the number of placements a child experiences and allowing a family to bond.