Whenever possible, the caseworker or investigator works with the family to identify the least restrictive placement setting for a child or children. These resources might include neighbors, relatives or close friends. Typically, these resources are not known to the agency and therefore require validation (e.g. security screening) prior to placement approval.
Decisions about where to place a child in out-of-home care should be made by considering a number of factors, including the:
The goal for the child welfare agency is to minimize the number of placements for a child by considering all of the factors listed above (plus others) to promote stability.
Children in out-of-home care (e.g. foster care) may live in a number of possible settings. These include kin or relative homes, community or kith homes, traditional foster homes, treatment foster homes, or group or residential care. Many communities use the phrase "foster care" to refer to this array of placements. In others, "foster care" refers to care in a foster family home, while "out-of-home care" encompasses all placement service provider options.
The ultimate goal for a child in care is for that child to return home to a safe environment where they are able to thrive. If and when deemed safe and appropriate, the child is returned to the parents/guardians and the removal (or removal episode) ends.