Here are a few descriptions of different kinds of placements where youth in foster care might live. Talk with your caseworker, Guardian ad Litem (GAL) or another person that you trust about any questions, hopes or concerns that you might have with placement options that are being considered for you.
Family Foster Home
A private home in which a youth resides. This home is the most family-like setting available to you when you are removed from your biological home. The home is limited to a total of six children under the age of 16, including the host family’s legal children. Exceptions to the number of allowed children can be made in order to allow siblings to be placed together.
Kinship Care
Sometimes your foster home can be with a relative, which is called kinship care. Kinship care is grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives and relative-like adults raising their grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or another relative’s child.
Therapeutic Foster Home
This foster home gives special care to youth with behavioral or emotional challenges. The foster family gets special training and support. This foster home is limited to two youth with therapeutic needs. A third slot is reserved for a child/youth who, at the time of placement, needed a therapeutic level of care, but who has made improvements and no longer needs that level of care.
Group Home/Residential Facility
This is a licensed facility with 24-hour staff which provides residential care for twelve or fewer youth. This placement provides individualized treatment for youth, such as psychiatric consultation, group work, and individual work. This type of care is used only when it is medically needed.
Shelter
A residential facility that provides care for youth in crisis on a short-term basis; up to three weeks.
Transitional Living Program
This program teaches a lot of life skills and helps you set and follow goals—for your education, work, relationships, etc. As you do well in these areas, you’ll be getting ready for your own place. It’s not as easy as it sounds, but these programs have helped youth who are ready for bigger responsibilities.