Blog Highlights
- Traditional, or community, foster care covers the non-relative care for children while they are in care of the Department of Child Safety (DCS).
- Kinship foster care is a specific type of care that allows both relatives and other direct connections of the family to care for a child.
- Therapeutic foster care provides more care and support for children and youth who have significant medical or behavioral needs.
- Respite care provides short-term support, often for just a few days, for caregivers who need a temporary respite, often due to the caregiver’s personal need (Ex: travel due to death in family).
- Group homes are intended as short-term placements while waiting to move children into a family-like setting.
- Tribal care occurs when the child is Native American, the placement options are the same (prioritizing Native American foster families).
Deciding to provide foster care is a big move for many families. Before you get started, make sure you have a solid understanding of what that might look like for your family, including the type of care you want to provide. There are many types of care available, from traditional foster care to therapeutic or respite care options and different licensing types and associated requirements as such. As a foster care provider, you get to choose the one that works best for your family’s unique needs.
1. Traditional (Community) Foster Care
Traditional foster care is the type of care most families think about when they’re considering opening their homes. Traditional foster care placements occur when a non-relative provides care for children while they are in care of DCS. When you provide traditional foster care, you can choose the age range and genders you prefer to have in the home.
2. Kinship Foster Care: Caring for Family
Kinship foster care occurs when family members are able to take children into their homes and provide care–and it’s not just for direct biological relatives. In addition to family members who may step up to the plate to care for children moving into the foster care system, “fictive kin” may also have the ability to offer that care. That includes teachers, coaches, family friends, and other connections to the family. Kinship care may be overall less disruptive for youth in foster care.
Kinship placements fall into two categories. Unlicensed kinship providers do not go through foster care training and may have less oversight, but will receive less financial support from DCS. Licensed kinship care providers, on the other hand, undergo the licensing process and receive a full stipend and additional support from their licensing case manager.
3. Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC)
Children and youth with significant medical and/or behavioral needs require placement in homes that can provide them with the support they need. TFC parents receive specialized training and professional support to help them provide the care these children need, from assisting with meeting high medical needs and/or healing from severe trauma.
4. Respite Care: Short-Term Support
Respite care is a specific type of placement where providers care for a child for typically a few days or a week. Respite care may occur for a number of reasons, including:
- Emergencies in the foster family or family of origin
- Needed medical care for the caregiver or other individuals in the family
- Burnout prevention
- Travel when the child in care cannot go along (Ex: travel for a family funeral)
Respite care placements may also be used when the family of origin has a short-term emergency that prevents them from providing care for their child, but the child is expected to return quickly to their family.
5. Emergency and Congregate Care
Emergency shelters for children in foster care provide a short-term placement option that provides immediate safety and shelter for children removed from their homes. Emergency shelters are intended to provide less than 30 days of care. Group homes, also known as congregate care, are longer-term placements for children in care who cannot be placed in a family home setting for various reasons. While these options can provide short-term care, the goal is to remove children from them and move them into a family home setting as soon as possible.
6. Tribal Foster Care
Tribal placements prioritize putting Native American children into a foster home that has a connection to their tribal roots, protecting their heritage and culture while they are in care. Arizona has a high need for Native American foster families to align with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), which helps create and maintain that vital cultural connection. Non-native foster caregivers can also have placements of Native American youth.
Transform Lives in Foster Care
If you are interested in exploring becoming a foster parent, this webpage (https://dcs.az.gov/foster) is your first step in that journey.
If you’re looking for ways to support youth in foster care, there are many ways you can get involved. At Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, we provide programs that offer much-needed funding for activities and needs not covered by DCS stipends. Donate today to make a tangible difference for children in care.
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