Sometimes, for one reason or another, a state’s Social Services Department will require that a child live in foster care. This might be because of a family illness or death, or because of neglect or abuse in the home. Basically, if a child’s family cannot care for him or her, the state agency will make sure that the child is placed into a more supportive environment. Kids of all ages might go into foster care — from infants to teens. The agency will place the child with a foster family, who is specially trained to look after him or her.

Foster parents are not like adoptive parents, however, since they are not given the same authority and parental responsibility. They do not have custody of the child. Also, the child might still be in contact with his or her birth family.