Answers to common questions about Foster Care, our programs, and how you can make a difference.
Foster care is a family-based, temporary care arrangement in which a child who is unable to remain with their biological family is placed with trained and approved caregivers. The objective is to provide a safe, nurturing, and stable home environment while long-term solutions such as family reunification, adoption, or independent living are explored. The child remains under the legal responsibility of the State and the Child Welfare Committee.
Foster care is temporary and reversible, whereas adoption is permanent. In foster care, the child’s legal identity does not change, the biological parents’ rights are not terminated, and the Child Welfare Committee remains the legal guardian. In adoption, full legal responsibility transfers permanently to the adoptive parents.
Kinship care involves placement with relatives or close family friends, while foster care involves placement with non-related caregivers. Kinship care is always considered first when family placement is possible.
Institutional care refers to residential care provided by government or non-government Child Care Institutions. It is considered only when family-based options such as kinship care or foster care are not immediately available.
A child may remain in foster care until the age of 18, unless earlier reunification, adoption, or another permanent arrangement is approved by the CWC.
Yes. Foster parents receive mandatory training, continuous counselling, and professional support before, during, and after placement to ensure the emotional well-being of the child and stability of the foster family.
Children facing abuse, neglect, abandonment, parental illness, incarceration, disaster displacement, domestic violence, extreme poverty or all children who are in need of care and protection may be considered eligible for foster care based on guidelines.
Any Indian citizen, meeting age, marital stability, health, financial, and legal requirements, and approved after background checks and home study, may apply.
Yes. Single applicants between 35–65 years may foster, except that single male applicants are not permitted to foster girl children.
Yes, after two years of fostering the child, if the child becomes legally free for adoption and all statutory conditions are fulfilled, foster parents may apply for foster adoption.
Yes. Foster parents receive monthly financial assistance as per government guidelines to support the child’s care, education, and health needs.
Foster Care Society provides orientations, counselling, training, home visits, legal coordination, case management, and continuous mentoring for both children and caregivers.
Foster parents are responsible for the child’s daily care, education, emotional well-being, health needs, and protection, while cooperating with the Child Welfare Committee and social workers.
Child safety is ensured through strict screening of foster parents, regular home monitoring, Supportive supervision, grievance redressal mechanisms, and adherence to national child protection laws.
In rare situations, alternative placement options are immediately arranged with the approval of the Child Welfare Committee to ensure continuity of care for the child.
You may participate as a volunteer, intern, donor, professional partner, or community advocate. Visit the Get Involved section for opportunities.
You can make general donations, sponsor specific programs, or support individual children’s needs. Both one-time and recurring contributions are accepted.
Yes, eligible donations are tax-deductible under applicable government provisions. Donation receipts are provided.
You can reach us through the Contact Us page, phone, email, or by visiting our office.