At times, children who have been abused or neglected must be removed from their homes for their safety. Foster Care (now called Permanency Planning) is a temporary removal while parents work on getting back together (called reunification). If a family is unable to reunify, other long-term options may include adoption.
This page provides more information on foster care, becoming a foster care parent, support for extended families who are caring for children, and adoption resources.
Additional Information
What is Foster Care (Permanency Planning)?
Foster care is the temporary care of children who were found to be abused or neglected, with plans to return home when it is safe to do so. With the necessary support and needed services, many families can safely return to caring for their children. Foster parents play a vital role in helping and nurturing a child in need and supporting families during a difficult time.
Shared Parenting
With support and needed services, many families can safely care for their children. Foster parents play a vital role in helping and nurturing a child in need and supporting their families during this process.
Becoming a Foster Care Parent
Becoming a foster parent can change your life and the life of a child in a positive way. Fostering brings safety, security and nurturing to children and families in need.
Support for Extended Families Caring for Children (Kinship Care)
Kinship care refers to the care of children by relatives or close family friends (often referred to as fictive kin). This option is the preferred resource for children who must be removed from their birth parents, because it maintains a connection to family for the children.
Kinship care may be formal, meaning the family gets a foster parent license. It can also be informal, where the home is checked for safety and ability to meet the needs of the child.
Adoption
Adoption is the permanent, legal transfer of parental rights and responsibilities from birth parents to adoptive parents when the birth parents’ legal rights have been terminated. Adoptive parents make a commitment to become children’s legal family and to nurture, care for and support them throughout their lives.
Community Outreach Sponsorship Team (C.O.S.T) Donation
About the C.O.S.T program
The C.O.S.T program coordinates donations for children, youth and families involved with the Child Welfare system.
Donations
If you or your group would like to make a donation, you may either call our Child Welfare Donation Line at 919-212-7444 or send an email to the C.O.S.T Team at COST4wake@wake.gov.
A C.O.S.T member will get back to you to gather all needed information, coordinate delivery and pick-up of the items to be donated, and provide a donation letter (if requested).
C.O.S.T only accepts new items in original packaging for donation.
Community Partner Portal
Register yourself or your agency as one of our community partners. This will allow us to communicate directly with you to provide updates and ideas on ways you can offer support.
Use the button or Scan the QR Code (If you have a device that has an app capable of reading QR codes, you may scan the QR code below, which should take you directly to the survey in a web browser.)
Become a Community Partner
We look forward to partnering with you soon.
Follow us on Social Media
Facebook: @WakeCountyChildWelfareServices
Instagram: @WakeCountyChildWelfare