Foster Care FAQs

Family & Children’s Aid approves homes for Foster / Adoptive Care and Respite Care. Learn more about these below.

Foster Care Is...

  • An opportunity to make a lifetime of difference
  • A chance to impact the future of a child
  • An opportunity to help children feel good about themselves
  • A chance to use your special talents and knowledge
  • The joy of giving a child a sense of belonging

What is Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC)?

Therapeutic Foster Care is foster care for children who have experienced significant trauma such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, and/or neglect. Our program serves children between the ages of 6 and 17 years old.

Children in TFC receive daily care, support, guidance, nurturing and modeling from foster parents who have been trained to deal with the special issues of children who have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect. Family & Children’s Aid provides the necessary training and 24/7 support for foster families.

On any given day there are approximately 2,000 children in Connecticut awaiting placement in a home.

Placement length varies from short-term to permanent.

How long will a placement last?

Each child’s situation is unique. Some children need a home for a night or two, while others need a forever home. We work with you to determine the best fit for your situation.

Respite care of a foster child is either on an emergency basis or on a pre-planned basis in order to give assistance to foster parents/families requiring alternative care due to illness, travel, or other reasons.

Temporary care is provided by specially trained foster parents to afford foster children a short-term, safe and nurturing environment. These placements may be from a few hours to a month long.

Who can be a foster parent?

Families or individuals over the age of 21, who are financially and emotionally stable, responsible and willing to work as a part of a team may be foster parents. Foster and respite parents are culturally diverse, single or married and from all income levels. No experience with foster care or special needs is required. Family & Children's Aid provides initial licensing training, as well as ongoing training, and 24/7 support to foster families.

Foster families must have a clean and safe home with adequate space for an additional child. Families complete training and undergo a home study, which includes a review of any criminal history, child protective service, financial and driving records. Foster families must have the time, flexibility and the desire to make a difference in the life of a child.

How does FCA support foster parents?

Family & Children's Aid offers extensive and on-going training and 24/7 support to foster parents at no cost. A tax-free reimbursement/stipend to help cover the cost of food, clothing and other basic needs for the foster child(ren) is provided.

What do foster parents do?

The foster parent acts as a full-time caregiver until the child returns to his parents or relatives or another permanent plan is made. Foster parents work as part of a treatment team to assist children in reaching their behavioral, emotional, developmental or medical goals.

How can I help?

  • You can't change their past, but you can change their futureBecome a respite caregiver
  • Become a foster parent
  • Sponsor a foster family
  • Adopt a child
  • Help us find more foster parents
  • Become a temporary care home
 

For more information, call to speak with our Foster Care staff: 1-888-You-Belong (1-888-968-2356) or email fostercare@fcaweb.org.