The Department of Health and Human Resources is required by federal and state laws to provide for a child who must be away from his home for a specific period of time. Foster care may be temporary - lasting a few days to several months. These children may be placed in permanent foster care, legal guardianship, or adoption. Back to directory.
Adoption builds a family and provides a permanent home for a child.
After birth parents have voluntarily given up their parental rights or the court has terminated the parents' rights the adoption can be finalized in a court of law. The adoptive parent then becomes the child's legal parent and has the same formal and legal responsibility for the child as if they were the biological parents. Back to directory. Foster care, adoption, legal guardianship, or emergency shelter care may be needed for a child for many reasons. Children are removed from their own homes by court action or are voluntarily placed in foster care by their parents.