Every child and teen deserves to feel safe, loved and supported. Sometimes families go through serious challenges that make it hard for parents to provide the care their children need. When that happens, foster care is a bridge. It gives children safety, stability and compassion while parents work toward healing.

Foster parents play a vital role in foster care. The primary goal of foster care is safe family reunification. Foster parents open their homes and hearts, offering comfort and encouragement. Whether they care for a child or teen for a few days or for several months, every act of care makes a lasting impact.

Each child and teen has unique needs. That’s why there are different types of foster care, each designed to give the right level of support. By learning about these types, you’ll see how foster parents and kinship caregivers step in to change lives one child, one teen, one family at a time.

1. Relative Kinship Care

The goal of kinship care is to maintain the child or teen’s connection to their home community, including their friends, school and existing support system. Relatives, like grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins, are the first choice to provide a safe and caring environment for youth in foster care.

In the U.S., an estimated 32.7% of grandparents living with their grandchildren under the age of 18 are responsible for their care, and 38% of all children in foster care are in the care of relatives.

While every state differs in its approach to relative kinship care, The Child Welfare Information Gateway describes three categories of relative kinship care:

• Informal kinship care: The child welfare system is not involved. A parent may leave a child or teen in a relative’s care while overseas or when an illness or other circumstance prevents the parent from caring for the youth. Legal custody remains with the parent.
• Voluntary kinship care: The child welfare system is involved, legal custody of youth does not change. In many cases, a court has decided to place the child or teen with relatives while the parent receives in-home family support to resolve conflicts or disruptions and learn healthy skills so that the child or teen can safely return home. Legal custody remains with the parent.
• Formal kinship care: A judge places youth in the legal custody of the State, and a child welfare agency places the youth with a relative. The child welfare agency has legal custody of the youth and works in partnership with the family to make legal decisions and work toward safe reunification.

2. Non-Related Kinship Care

Like relative kinship care, the goal of non-related kinship care is also to help maintain the child’s connection to their normal surroundings. When a child or teen is removed from their home, even though it’s necessary for the safety and stability of the child, it’s traumatic. When they’re cared for by someone familiar, it can help ease the changes they’re experiencing.

“Non-related kin” refers to a person who is familiar with the youth or family and is willing to provide a safe home until stability, also known as permanency, can be achieved through safe reunification, adoption or other means. 

These people may include a neighbor, family friend, teacher, coach or other acquaintance. In many states, while non-related kinship caregivers must obtain their foster care license, they can receive a temporary license in the interim so they can immediately care for the child or teen.

3. Traditional Foster Care

Anyone who meets the requirements and completes the training to become a foster parent may care for any child, teen or sibling group in state custody. Foster parents provide care and support for youth until a permanency plan is implemented. 

Foster parents are committed to working in partnership with birth family members and child welfare professionals, as well as completing ongoing training requirements, always understanding that the primary goal of foster care is safe reunification.

Do you have the heart to foster a child or teen? Say yes, and we’ll be with you every step of the way.

4. Treatment Foster Care 

Children and teens in foster care have experienced trauma such as abuse, neglect or other serious family challenges. Some may also have serious medical conditions, mental health needs or complex challenges that require a higher level of care. These youth need specialized care from trained professionals and caregivers to heal from trauma and develop their social and independent living skills.

Treatment foster care (also called therapeutic foster care in some states) provides this specialized support. While treatment-level foster parents receive additional training, all KVC foster parents are educated on childhood trauma and how to help youth heal and thrive.

Treatment-level foster parents also receive extra resources and guidance, preparing them to care for children and teens with more complex needs. If you’re interested in making a difference at this level of care, learn more about becoming a treatment-level foster parent.

5. Emergency Foster Care

Children and teens can come into state custody at any moment… day or night. In those first uncertain hours, child welfare professionals work urgently to find them a safe place to stay. But with more than 343,000 children in foster care across the U.S., and more entering every day, there aren’t always enough foster parents to care for them. 

That’s when emergency caregivers make all the difference. They open their homes on short notice, offering safety and stability for up to 72 business hours. Their care provides children and teens comfort in a crisis until a relative or foster parent placement is found.

6. Respite Care

Every parent needs a break, and foster parents are no different. Respite caregivers provide short-term care, often just an evening or weekend, for youth living with another foster parent. These breaks give foster parents the chance to rest and recharge, so they can continue providing the stability and love the youth in their care need.

Respite care is also a beautiful way to make a difference. It allows you to step into a child or teen’s life, even briefly, to offer comfort and safety. At the same time, it gives you a glimpse into what foster parenting is like, without a long-term commitment.

Children and teens remember the moments when someone showed up for them. You can be that person. Learn more about becoming a respite care provider today.

Become a Foster Parent

No matter the type of foster care, every caregiver changes lives. One person stepping up for a family in crisis can spark transformation. For a child or teen, simply knowing an adult cares unconditionally about them can be the turning point.

At the core, foster parenting isn’t about being perfect. It’s about how much you care. That simple act of love can change everything. 

Ready to take the next step? Explore our free foster parenting resources and discover how you can open your heart and home to a child, teen and family in need.

• Wondering if foster parenting is right for you? Here’s a checklist to help you decide.
• Questions about foster care? Get the answers you need! Download the 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Foster Parenting.
• Ready to choose an agency? Get your ultimate guide to choosing a foster care agency to suport you.