Why do children/young people need to be fostered?
There are many different reasons why families are unable to look after their children. Many of these reasons will only apply for a short time. For instance, some children may come into foster care for a few weeks during a time of crisis or bereavement. In other cases children might need to be fostered for a much longer period. It may take two or three years before a child is able to return home while social workers and others try to resolve more serious problems within the family. Some children will not return home but maintain contact with their families and live in foster care until they are able to live on their own.
