What is Foster Care?

All children grow and thrive best when they are a part of a family.  Ideally, children would always remain with their families of origin. 

Although Wesley House Family Services in collaboration with a number of other community agencies offering a variety of supportive services, makes every effort to keep families together, it isn't always possible.  If it is determined that a child cannot safely remain at home, the decision may be made to place that child in foster care. 
 
Foster care is a program that allows stand-in parents, referred to as foster parents, to care for children who have been removed from their homes due to allegations of abuse or neglect, until they can be returned to their families or can be placed in a permanent living situation.

Often parents who have had their children removed from their home are given a plan to follow.  Upon successful completion of this plan, the parents can regain custody of their children. 

The main goal of foster care is to reunify the child with the family, although it isn't uncommon for children placed in foster care to become available for adoption.  The services that are a part of foster care are designed to promote child safety and well-being within a nurturing, family environment and are tailored to each child's unique needs.