Foster Care
in California

There are over 55,000 children in foster care in California.  Children enter foster care because of a suspicion of abuse or neglect, or an assessment by Child Protective Services (CPS).  Most reunify with their birth family, however, if a child's birth family is unable to care for the child or adequately address the issues leading to the trauma the family is experiencing, then the child may be legally freed for placement in a permanent, loving, adoptive family.  While in foster care, children may live temporarily with extended family members, with a resource family (formerly known as foster), or in a group home. Meanwhile, social workers help birth parents or other relatives to resolve the issues that led to removal of the child from their parents and/or guardians. Individuals who care for foster children are called Resource Parents because they are a resource that helps children during their temporary time of need. During this time it is determined whether a child is able to return to their first parents or extended family members, or the child needs to be placed permanently for adoption If adoption placement becomes the right option for the child, resource parents currently caring for the foster child are considered as the first option for placement, presuming no relatives are available or able to provide appropriate care. The age range of children in foster care ranges from infants to teenagers, with the greatest need for parents who are open to taking older children, parenting youth, and large sibling groups.  Before a child is placed with an adoptive family, the child's caseworker will disclose all of the information that the county has about the child – including the child’s strengths, challenges, and needs.  If you are interested in adopting a child or children from foster care, the first step is to find an agency to work with.  There are usually minimal costs/fees to adopt from foster care.