Foster Care Fundamentals: An Overview of California's Foster Care System.

摘要

The Child Welfare Services (CWS) system is the safety net for protecting neglected and abused children. This system is a complex array of programs and services. A primary CWS service and program is foster care: the 24-hour out-of-home care provided to children in need of substitute parenting because their own families are unable or unwilling to care for them. The purpose of foster care is to keep children safe while services are provided to reunite their family. Foster Care Fundamentals describes Californias foster care system. This report provides a big picture overview. It highlights issues and experiences of those in the system: foster children and youth, social workers, and others. The report is intended to give policymakers a working understanding of foster care in order to make informed decisions in this policy area.