ABSTRACT
Across the world, a version of foster family care forms part of the response to the abuse and neglect of children. Informal foster care, especially with relatives and friends, is a part of every society, although the proportion of children who are in foster care varies over time and across jurisdictions. This chapter focuses on foster care in ‘global north’ nations, and on the formally provided services, while recognising its presence in a less regulated form in poorer countries. In this chapter foster care services and foster carer ‘careers’ are considered in terms of whether they are in the main providing a short-term, birth family-focused service or a longer-term substitute family service. Information is provided on the extent to which foster family care is used in different jurisdictions. This is then followed by a summary of what is known about the outcomes of foster family care.
