ABSTRACT
This chapter covers the major areas: evolution, definition, and direction of family foster care; children and youths in family foster care; professionalization of foster parents; and effectiveness of services. Family foster care, a phenomenon with ancient origins in human history, continues to affect the lives of millions of children, youths, and their families. Gradually, family foster care, which had emerged in the latter part of the nineteenth century of rescuing children from their "inadequate" parents, to be considered a temporary service whose purpose was to reunite children with their families or place them, in another family in which they could grow up. The greatest obstacle to the professionalization of family foster care undoubtedly is inadequate fiscal resources, particularly in public agencies, for things such as adequate compensation of foster parents, reasonable worker caseloads, respite care, and other support services. The research required on the effectiveness of foster care as well as other permanency planning services.
