Types of Foster Families

Traditional foster care:
Children in foster care can range in age from birth through 21 years of age.  They can be from any race and cultural background.  All of the children have experienced loss and trauma, just by the nature of being in foster care, but additionally, many of the children have been exposed to abuse, neglect, and a chaotic or dysfunctional home life.  We have a great need for families who are able to keep sibling groups together and for families that accept teenagers.

Kinship foster care:
Kinship families are families that are approved for specific children in foster care because they are related or had a previous relationship with a child.  Kinship families go through the exact same process as traditional foster families to become licensed.

Foster/adoptive foster care:
Families that wish to adopt through the foster care system are considered pre-adoptive families.  Efforts are made to place potentially adoptive child placements with the families.  All Families United Network families receive training so that they can foster and/or adopt.

Teen foster care:
Youth that are 14 years or older who are placed in one of our foster homes are eligible for independent living services.  Our case managers will assist in assessing the youth’s level of functioning and develop a plan that focuses on their individual needs, incorporating important life skills, such as daily living activities, budgeting, health relationships, work/study skills and more.

Mother/child foster care:
There is sometimes a need to provide foster care to girls who are pregnant or have already had their child living with them.  Being able to assist and support the young parent as well as model positive parenting skills is essential for this type of foster care.

Medical Fragile foster care:
Some youth in foster care have special medical needs that require additional medical support.  Foster families that provide care to these children typically have experience in the medical field, or can receive child-specific training prior to the child being placed in the home.

Respite foster care:
This consists of short term placements of children in foster care.  In some instances, it could range from a scheduled occurrence to an emergency situation.  Respites generally are not longer than 7 days in length.

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