The foster care system needs foster families that are able to take children for both short and long periods of time. While both kinds of adoption are needed, they differ quite a bit from one another. Because of this, it is important that you know how the two differ, so that you can determine which option you feel is best for you, your family, and your life situation overall. Here are some of the differences between short and long term fostering and how they can affect your family.
Short Term Fostering
Most children who are put in a foster home are put into the home with a short term foster care plan in place. This often happens because the situation with their birth parents is not resolved, they are unsure if they will be placed back in their original home, etc. This period of time can be up to 2 years, and is still considered short term fostering.
This type of fostering is good for families who like the idea of being foster parents, but do not want to have a long-term commitment. They are able to help these children for a set period of time, while they are transitioning back into their old homes, or into a new home.
Long Term Fostering
In contrast, long-term fostering means any type of foster situation that is going to be over two years. In this type of situation, the child is not going to be returning to their previous home, and will be staying with the family until they are an adult. This will often lead to the family adopting the child, and is a great way to grow your family.
This is a great situation for a family who is looking to accept another son, daughter, or sibling into their home, and they plan on being a foster parent for the long haul. This is often easier for families as well because they are not often taking foster children in and out of their home. .
To learn more about long and short term foster care, visit us today at TFI Family Services.