Each child s special needs are carefully considered when determining which foster parents are most appropriate. There are special requirements for therapeutic foster care homes. The child has emotional, psychological, behavioral, developmental, or medical problems or needs. The foster parents have received additional training and meet therapeutic foster care requirements. Emergency Foster Care Emergency foster care is designed to provide care for a child on an immediate basis.
Some foster homes specialize in doing emergency care.
These homes are designed to keep a child only until a longer term placement is found or the child returns home and children tend to stay up to 30 days. Any foster home that is willing to take an appropriate emergency placement may be designated as an emergency foster home for the purpose of that placement. However, emergency foster care may be changed into a long term foster care placement if the child, custody holder, family, and foster parents think the foster home is the best placement option for the child. The child being placed immediately without benefit of pre-placement or time to share information distinguishes emergency foster care from other types of foster care. Emergency care is provided when long-term care options are unavailable to the child or the child is in clear and immediate danger of abuse, neglect, or exploitation.