How long do foster children stay in a home at a time?

Question

(Before going to a new home?)

Answer 1

Anywhere from one day to years.  The couple next door have had foster kids with them for up to 6 years before while they also had some that were there for only a day.  Depends on each case and if they are going up for adoption or not.

Answer 2

We have had them in our home as little as one night.  Then we have the 2 we just adopted that we have had for over 2 years.  It just depends on the situation.  I have known of people having a kid for as long as 5 years and they just aged out of the system because the kid was happy but did not want adoption.

Answer 3

There is no set limit to my knowledge,

Answer 4

It can be any time length. It could be only one day or 10 years. I'm serious.

Answer 5

Depends they try to keep them in one place as long as possible till reunification or they age out.  However when you sign up you sign up for certain age groups.  So if they get older you can request for them to be moved or you can up your age and keep them.  Move hurt kids so they try to move kids a few times as possibel

Answer 6

Hopefully they can stay until they are reunited with their family, turn 18, or find an adoptive home. The problem that many kids have is that they are moved around too much. If they can find a good stable home that is really best for them. There is no limit so long as the situation is working well for the children and foster parents.

There are some people that prefer to provide only short term foster care, until kids can find a longer term placement. In this case it can range from days to a month or so.

If the parents can get their act together the kids will go back with them. If not the parents rights will be terminated and the kids will be available for adoption or long term foster care.

Answer 7

This is so incredibly variable, I don't think anybody can give you a timeline. My sister's DIL is a foster mom for infants in Florida. While we all know the foster system in FL is screwed up, she has had one infant for 3 years, while most are there for 6 months or less. She and her husband are attempting now to adopt the 3 year old. That was not their original intention, but given that they are the only family this child knows and none of her relatives come forward to even visit, they feel it is in the child's best interests to remain.

Answer 8

Depends on lots of things like  who they are placed with (another family member or stranger), how well they fit in with the new family, and what the problem is at their birth home.

Kids in foster care (depending on the state) are suppose to have a permanency plan in effect by 2 yrs - either reunification, or another permanent home, but sadly, it usually doesn't work that quickly.

Answer 9

Anywhere from one day to forever.  If it's a very long time, sometimes the foster parents adopt them, but more often they stay foster kids for a very long time.

Answer 10

from 1 Day- 18 years

Answer 11

As everyone answered it depends...sometimes it is just an emergency and overnight, sometimes, years, sometimes they are removed because it is not a good fit with the family and they go elsewhere, often the foster parents adopt them, sometimes they stay while family is located, and every blue moon, the system works and they stay while mom and/or dad pull it together, or when mom/dad are well enough to care for them (some children have to enter care because of a serious health issue and there are no family to help the children while the parents recover).

Answer 12

I've had them in the house as little as overnight all the way up to the little one we have now who will be here forever once we finish the adoption.  It all depends upon the situation of the child.