foster ?

[HotI]

Short term foster care may be one night, a few days, weeks or months.
Long term foster care can be 6 months or years.
Permanent care is legally up to 18 years, but i would presume that you would then consider that child to be part of your family by then (we do!)
Adoption means the child is a legal dependent with all legal rights of a child born to you including being entitled to your estate.



Different departments may vary on definition, so you will have to check with your state department.

[PrincessLollyPopLePink]

DH and I are new foster carers and I'd say the best way is to attend the training courses. Than most likely you'll get a feel if it's going to be for you or not, you might even change your mind on the type of care you'd like to do. At first I thought we'd just do respite care, doing the course made us really wish to do it full time, hard to explain in words.