What is Foster Care?
Providing Safety, Stability, and Hope for Arizona’s Children
The information provided in this resource is in regards to Traditional Foster Care only. The information in this document is up to date as of May 2025. For more information regarding the licensing process for foster caregivers in Arizona please refer to https://dcs.az.gov/foster.
Resource Legnth: 15 mins | Published 2025
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A Letter From the Expert
Dear Reader,
Every child deserves a safe and loving home. Yet across Arizona, thousands of children are removed from their families due to abuse, neglect, or unsafe conditions. At any given time, there are over thousands of children in out-of-home care, many right here in our community. These children need stability, care, and compassion as they navigate some of the hardest moments of their young lives.
The role of foster parents has never been more important. Children entering foster care bring with them not only their belongings, but also their stories of trauma, resilience, and hope. Providing a nurturing home environment can be the difference that helps a child heal, grow, and feel safe again.
You can play a role in helping children in foster care. This guide is your starting point. You will learn what it takes to become a licensed foster parent, what is expected in preparing your home, and the support available to you along the way. Our hope is that this resource will inspire you to take action and consider opening your heart and home to a child in need.
If you are considering fostering, know that you will never be alone in this journey. At A New Leaf, we walk with families every step of the way, through training, licensing, and ongoing support. Foster parents are not only caregivers, they are partners in creating brighter futures for children.
No matter where you are on your journey, I invite you to join us in supporting children in foster care and giving them the loving home that they deserve.
Thank you for reading,
Kristina Gonzalez
Foster Care Program Manager
A New Leaf
What is Foster Care
Understanding the foster care system is a great place to start on your fostering journey. The fundamentals are important!
The foster care system is managed by the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS). DCS oversees the placement of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or other unsafe conditions. In Arizona, there are approximately 10,000 children in “out-of-home” care, with a significant number of these children residing in the Phoenix area.
When a child is removed from their home, they are placed into the foster care system, which can involve living with a foster family, in a group home, or with relatives under kinship care. The Department of Child Safety becomes the legal guardian of the child during this time, ensuring that they receive care and protection. The initial focus is on reuniting the child with their biological family, but if that cannot be safely achieved, the state may seek to place the child in a permanent home through adoption. Below are the steps taken for a child to enter the foster care system.
Why are Children Removed From the Home?
When a child enters foster care it is typically because the Department of Child Safety has determined that the child’s current living situation is unsafe. The process usually involves several steps, from the initial removal of the child from their home to their placement in foster care.
It is important to remember that every child’s story is unique. The reasons for removal vary widely, and no two children experience foster care in the same way. As you review these common circumstances, we encourage you not to pass judgment on the families or children involved. Instead, see these reasons as context for why foster care exists and why the need for safe, supportive foster homes is so great.
The following list highlights the most common situations that may result in a child being placed in foster care. Understanding these reasons can help you better appreciate the challenges foster children may have faced and the vital role you can play in offering stability, care, and hope.
- Physical Abuse: signs of physical abuse might include unexplained bruises, fractures, burns, or other injuries that do not match the explanation given by the caregivers.
- Neglect: this is the failure of a caregiver to provide for a child’s basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and education.
- Sexual Abuse: this involves any sexual activity with a child where consent is not or cannot be given. This includes exposing a child to sexual content or using them in pornography.
- Substance Abuse: Children might be removed from their homes if their parents or caregivers are using drugs or alcohol to the extent that it impairs their ability to provide safe care.
- Abandonment: Children are considered abandoned when their parents or guardians have left them without provision for care or without any intention of returning.
- Domestic Violence: If a child is living in a household where domestic violence is present, and it poses a direct threat to their safety, they may be placed in foster care to protect them from further harm.
What Happens After Removal From the Home?
Learn how children are cared for and supported through each stage of the process after removal from their home.
When a child is removed from their home, it is the beginning of a journey filled with many important decisions and supports. The immediate priority is ensuring the child’s safety, but the process that follows is about much more. It is about creating stability, exploring the possibility of reunification, and planning for a future where the child can thrive.
It is important to recognize that no two children experience foster care in the same way. Each case is shaped by unique circumstances, and the steps that follow removal can look very different from one child to another. As you read through these stages, remember that they are not just procedures. They are moments that deeply affect a child’s life.
The following overview outlines what typically happens after a child is removed from their home. By understanding these steps, you can better appreciate both the challenges children face and the role foster parents play in offering compassion, consistency, and support during such a difficult time.
- Initial Placement: After removal, the child is placed in a safe environment. This could be with a foster family, in a group home, or in kinship care (with relatives). The goal is to place the child in the least restrictive, most family-like setting possible.
- Emergency Custody Hearing: Shortly after removal, an emergency custody hearing is held. During this hearing, the court reviews the evidence presented by DCS and decides whether the child should remain in foster care or be returned to their parents. If the child remains in foster care, the court will determine the next steps, including the development of a case plan.
- Case Planning: A case plan is developed by DCS, which outlines the goals for the child’s care and the steps needed to achieve those goals. This plan may include reunification with the biological family, placement with relatives, or adoption if reunification is not possible. The plan is reviewed regularly by the court to ensure progress is being made.
- Ongoing Support and Services: While in foster care, children receive various services, including medical care, counseling, and educational support. The foster care system also provides support to foster families to ensure they can meet the needs of the children in their care.
- Permanency Planning: If reunification with the biological family is not possible, DCS will work towards finding a permanent placement for the child, such as adoption or guardianship. The goal is to ensure that the child has a stable, long-term living situation where they can thrive.
The Different Types of Foster Care
There are several different types of foster care. We define them here, but it is important to note that this document focuses only on Traditional Foster Care.
Traditional Foster Care:
Traditional foster care involves providing a safe, nurturing environment for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or other unsafe conditions. These children are placed in the care of foster parents who offer them stability and support during a challenging time in their lives. The primary goal of traditional foster care is often reunification, meaning that the child welfare system works towards reuniting the child with their biological parents once the home environment is deemed safe. Foster parents play a critical role in this process by caring for the child and supporting efforts to address the issues that led to the child’s removal.
Foster parents in a traditional setting must be prepared to provide emotional support, guidance, and care for children who may have experienced trauma. They receive training and ongoing support from the foster care agency to help them manage the unique challenges that come with fostering. These caregivers are also involved in regular meetings with social workers, therapists, and the child’s biological family to work towards the goal of reunification.
Therapeutic Foster Care:
Therapeutic foster care, also known as treatment foster care, is a specialized form of foster care designed for children and adolescents who have significant behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges. Unlike traditional foster care, therapeutic foster care places children with foster parents who have received specialized training in behavioral health. These foster parents often work closely with mental health professionals to provide a higher level of care tailored to the child’s specific needs.
The goal of therapeutic foster care is not only to provide a safe and stable environment but also to help the child develop coping mechanisms, improve their behavior, and achieve mental and emotional stability. The therapeutic foster caregiver acts as a key part of the treatment team, implementing therapeutic interventions in the home setting, monitoring the child’s progress, and ensuring that they receive appropriate mental health services.
Kinship Foster Care:
Kinship foster care involves placing a child with relatives or close family friends instead of placing them with non-relative foster parents. This type of care is often the preferred option in child welfare because it allows children to maintain connections with their family, culture, and community, which can be especially important for their emotional and psychological well-being.
In Arizona, kinship caregivers are typically involved with the Department of Child Safety (DCS) and are responsible for meeting the child’s day-to-day needs, including providing food, shelter, and emotional support. Unlike informal kinship care, where relatives might take in a child without the involvement of the child welfare system, kinship foster care is a formal arrangement that usually includes oversight and support from the state. Kinship caregivers may also become licensed foster parents, allowing them to receive financial support and additional resources to help care for the child.
Challenges in the Foster Care System
There are many challenges in the foster care system, but the community often has solutions to these. See some of the common ones here.
The foster care system faces numerous challenges that impact the well-being of children in care, the families who foster them, and the broader community. These challenges stem from a combination of systemic issues, resource limitations, and the complex needs of the children entering the system. Here’s an in-depth look at some of the key challenges:
High Number of Children in Foster Care:
One of the most pressing challenges in Arizona is the high number of children in foster care. The shortage of foster homes often results in children being placed in temporary shelters or group homes, which may not provide the same level of individualized care and attention as a family setting. Additionally, children might be placed far from their communities, schools, and siblings, disrupting their lives further.
Shortage of Licensed Foster Families:
Despite the large number of children in need, there are fewer than 2,400 licensed foster families available statewide. This gap between supply and demand is one of the most significant challenges for the foster care system.
The shortage forces the system to rely heavily on group homes or place multiple children in a single foster home, which can overwhelm foster parents and lead to burnout. The lack of available foster homes also limits the system’s ability to match children with families that can best meet their specific needs, whether those are cultural, medical, or emotional.
Complex Needs of Children:
Children entering foster care often come from backgrounds of severe trauma, including abuse, neglect, and exposure to substance abuse. Many of these children have significant emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges as a result.
Foster parents must be equipped to handle these complex needs, which requires specialized training, resources, and support. Without adequate preparation, foster families may struggle to provide the necessary care, leading to placement disruptions and additional trauma for the child.
Overrepresentation of Minority Groups:
In Arizona, like in many other states, there is a disproportionate representation of children of color in the foster care system. Specifically, Black, Native American, and LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented compared to their numbers in the general population.
These children often face additional challenges, including cultural disconnection, bias, and discrimination within the system. Addressing these disparities requires culturally competent care and training for foster parents, which adds another layer of complexity to the already strained system.
Retention and Support of Foster Families:
Foster families can sometimes face high levels of stress and emotional strain, leading to difficulties in retaining experienced foster parents. Factors contributing to this include the emotional toll of caring for traumatized children, inadequate support from the system, and the challenges of navigating the legal and bureaucratic aspects of foster care.
High turnover among foster families exacerbates the shortage of placements and can result in children being moved multiple times, which further disrupts their lives and contributes to emotional instability.
Start Your Foster Care Journey!
Becoming a foster parent is a meaningful way to make a difference in the lives of children who need a safe and nurturing environment.
A New Leaf’s Foster Care Program recruits and trains adults to become licensed foster parents or Respite Providers. By ensuring that foster parents have the licensing, confidence, and resources they need to care for a child from the foster system, A New Leaf is creating happy homes for countless children in Arizona.
Start your journey towards becoming a foster parent today by applying to A New Leaf’s Foster Care program. We will work with you every step of the way to ensure you are prepared, comfortable, and capable of providing a loving home to a child in need.
Why Foster Care Matters
The foster care system provides safety and stability for children who cannot remain at home due to abuse, neglect, or unsafe conditions. When a child’s safety is at risk, they are removed and placed in a temporary, supportive environment. Foster parents offer love, structure, and healing during this time. The system faces challenges like a shortage of licensed families, complex child needs, and limited resources. Becoming a foster parent requires commitment, training, and resilience. Addressing these challenges takes a joint effort from the community and support agencies to ensure every child can thrive.
