foster parent
Non-biological legal guardian
A foster parent is an adult who provides temporary care for a child placed in their home by a government agency or court, typically because the child's biological parents are unable to care for them.
Foster parents receive training and often compensation, but the arrangement is meant to be temporary—unlike adoption, which is permanent.
She became a foster parent after her own children left home.
One providing daily assistance
- nurturerOne who fosters development
- protectorOne who safeguards others
- providerOne who furnishes things
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
custodian · guardian · kinship care · respite care · therapeutic care · trauma-informed · attachment parenting · behavior management
Legal family formation
- permanencyState of being lasting
- home studyLearning outside the classroom
- legal guardianCourt-appointed child protector
- custodyProtective care or control
placement · bonding · attachment · child welfare · reunification · open adoption · closed adoption · adoptee
Supportive care-giving
- bondingForming close connections
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- patienceCalm during delays
stability · security · unconditional love · encouragement · trust-building · healing · resilience · emotional support
Short pause from hardship
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- short-termOf limited duration
- transitionalConnecting two phases
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
temporary custody · host family · waiting period · uncertainty · case review · court hearing · visitation schedule · aging out
caregiver
One providing daily assistance
- nurturerOne who fosters development
- protectorOne who safeguards others
- providerOne who furnishes things
mentor · custodian · guardian · kinship care · respite care · therapeutic care · trauma-informed · attachment parenting · behavior management · special needs
adoption
Legal family formation
- permanencyState of being lasting
- home studyLearning outside the classroom
- legal guardianCourt-appointed child protector
custody · placement · bonding · attachment · child welfare · reunification · open adoption · closed adoption · adoptee · finalization
nurturing
Supportive care-giving
- bondingForming close connections
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- compassionConcern for others' distress
patience · stability · security · unconditional love · encouragement · trust-building · healing · resilience · emotional support · understanding
respite
Short pause from hardship
- interimProvisional in-between phase
- short-termOf limited duration
- transitionalConnecting two phases
provisional · temporary custody · host family · waiting period · uncertainty · case review · court hearing · visitation schedule · aging out
- Unsung Heroesvolunteer, caregiver, blood donor, organ donor, anonymous donor
- familymother, father, parents, siblings, son
- family membersmother, father, sister, brother, son
- family termsparents, nuclear family, mothers, extended family, fathers
- parentinggentle parenting, child, mom, children, kids
- loved onesspouse, partner, mother, father, parents
foster parentbiological parent
One who conceived offspring
birth parent · natural parent · birth mother · birth father · biological mother
parent, foster, fostering, fostered, fosterer, fosterage, fosterers, foster parents