There are three types of Resource Family Care providers: foster, adoption, and kinship. Foster caregivers
are individuals and families who voluntarily open their hearts and homes to become temporary parents
to children in need of a home due to protective or other social service reasons.
Adoptive caregivers provide permanent care for children whose parents have had their parental rights
terminated.
Kinship caregivers are related to a child in placement through blood, marriage, civil union, domestic
partnership, or adoption. Kinship caregivers may also be connected to the child by an established positive
psychological or emotional relationship.
While children are in placement, the resource family offers them loving experiences that promote
healthy growth and development. They provide the vital physical and emotional care that children need
when they are separated from their biological parents. Foster and adoptive caregivers must first be
licensed to provide care. Kinship caregivers may provide care before being licensed if they’re eligible
for licensure and are in the process of being licensed.