Other family members should be the first alternative if the biological parents cannot provide care for the child. When biological family care is unavailable or inappropriate, substitute family care should be considered. It must be recognized that there are parents who cannot bring up their own children and that the children's rights to security, affection and continuing care should be of greatest importance. Providers of service should have professional social work training in family and child welfare. B. Foster placement 7.
Every child has a right to a family.
Children who cannot remain in their biological family should be placed in foster family or adoption in preference to institutions, unless the child's particular needs can best be met in a specialized facility. Children for whom institutional care was formerly regarded as the only option should be placed with families, both foster and adoptive. Provision should be made for regulation of placement of children outside of their biological family. Foster family care should be a planned, temporary service as a bridge to permanency for a child, which includes but is not limited to restoration to the biological family or adoption. Planning for the child in foster family care must involve the biological family, foster family and child, if appropriate, under the auspices of a competent authorized agency.