Many factors can cause parents to be incapable of caring for their children. Sometimes, it is crucial to remove children from their birth parents' custody for safety reasons.

Therefore, child placement services will work to find the best foster parenting placement until the child can return safely to their home.

There are different types of foster care placements to cater to the unique needs of each family and child. Here are two common types of foster care placements.

1. Traditional Foster Care

It is for those willing to care for children under 18 for an undetermined amount of time. These foster parent(s) are trained and have the requirements to foster a child or siblings in state custody.

This type of foster care is the most familiar among families. Welfare services provide it to children who have suffered neglect or abuse and need support for a while until there is a permanent plan for their care. The stays can be from a few months to a couple of years.

A permanent plan usually involves reuniting the children with their birth parents. In the meantime, the foster parents collaborate with the foster system through regular home visits to ensure the children are well cared for.

2. Kinship/Relative Foster Care

Kinship/relative foster care is the first type of placement the system considers when they separate a child from the birth family. The system contacts relatives like grandparents, uncles, or aunts as the most desirable option to provide a secure environment for the children. 

Relative fosters are licensed to care for children since they are directly related. Kinship foster parents know the children from your community. For instance, you could be the child's teacher or coach.

There are three categories of relative/kinship foster care:

Informal kinship foster care 

The parent has legal custody of the child. However, they may leave the child in a relative's care while they recover from an illness or are overseas for some time. Therefore, the welfare system is not involved.

Voluntary kinship foster care

The welfare system is involved in this. But the state does not assume legal custody of the child. In this case, there could be a report of neglect or abuse by the birth parents to the child welfare services. The court may decide to put the minors in the care of relatives while welfare services investigate and solve disputes within the home so the child can return to a safe environment.

Formal kinship foster care

A court places the child in state custody. Then the welfare service puts them in the care of relatives or a foster home. In this case, the welfare agency assumes legal custody of the child and works with the family to make legal decisions.