foster family
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A family that provides temporary care and a home for a child who is not their own by birth or legal adoption: A "foster family" is a household where adults, often called foster parents, take in and care for a child or children whose biological parents are unable to do so. This arrangement is typically organized and supervised by a government or child welfare agency.
Usage
- A "foster family" provides a safe and nurturing environment for a child in need of care.
- The term is used to describe the family unit as a whole, including the foster parents and any other children in the home.
- It is a formal term used in social work, legal contexts, and general discussion about child welfare.
Examples
- Noun:
- After the court hearing, the child was placed with a loving foster family.
- The social worker visits the foster family monthly to check on the child's well-being.
- They decided to become a foster family to help children in their community.
Advanced Usage
- "to be placed with a foster family": This is a common phrase describing the official action of a child welfare system moving a child into a foster home.
- The siblings were placed with the same foster family to keep them together.
- "foster family placement": Refers to the specific instance or process of assigning a child to a foster family.
- The foster family placement was a success, and the child thrived in the new environment.
Variants and Related Words
- Foster parent (n): An individual who acts as a parent in a foster family.
- Each foster parent in the foster family completed extensive training.
- Foster child (n): A child being cared for by a foster family.
- The foster family welcomed their new foster child with open arms.
- Foster care (n): The system or overall practice of placing children with foster families.
- The child spent several years in the foster care system with different foster families.
Synonyms
- Guardian family: A less common term emphasizing the protective role.
- Care family: A general term highlighting the provision of care.
Related Phrases
- Kinship foster family: A specific type of foster family where the caregivers are relatives or close family friends of the child.
- When possible, a kinship foster family is the preferred placement.
Notes
- The concept of a "foster family" is distinct from adoption. A foster family provides temporary care, whereas adoption is a permanent legal transfer of parental rights.
- The well-being and reunification of the child with their biological family, when possible, is often a primary goal while the child is with a foster family.