Understanding the differences between long-term vs short-term fostering: which type of fostering is right for my family?

Let’s explore the differences between long-term and short-term foster care and things to consider when deciding which style of fostering will be a good fit for you and your family.

October 5 2015 - 4 min read

What’s the difference between long-term and short-term fostering?

There are many different types of fostering, but the two most common types are short-term and long-term fostering.

Short-term fostering is a type of fostering which generally lasts for up to 2 years. The goal of short-term fostering is to reunite children with their birth families wherever possible. Most children will move into their first foster home with a short-term care plan in place and the hope that they will be able to live together safely with their family once again.

Long-term fostering is a type of foster care put in place when it is decided that a child needs to stay in foster care until they reach adulthood. The goal of long-term foster care is to keep a child in a stable family environment for the duration of their childhood, preparing them for a healthy and secure adult life.

Learn more about each below...

Short-term foster care - foster parent with looked after children

Short term fostering

Short-term foster care provides children with a safe home environment on a temporary basis when they're not able to stay at home.

Long term fostering

Long-term fostering provides a stable family home to a child for many years. Quite often, the bonds last well into their later lives.

Understanding short-term fostering

Reuniting children with their families is the ultimate goal of short-term fostering. There are many circumstances where it might be decided that a child is able to return home to their family; for example, if a parent is serving a short-term prison sentence, recovering from a short-term illness, if issues around housing are resolved or if legal processes decide that it is now safe for a child to return to a family home which was previously unsafe.

While reunification is not always possible, we believe that keeping families together is the best possible outcome. Everyone involved in a child’s care will do their utmost to help ensure that family reunification is a viable option wherever it is safe to do so. One of the key roles short-term foster parents play in supporting reunification is taking children to visit their parents, siblings and other family members. Having this special family time can help every member of the family emotionally and can help to ensure that family bonds are maintained during times of hardship.

How long does a short-term foster placement last?

Short-term foster placements can be as short as an overnight emergency placement, or can last up to an average time of 2 years while plans are put in place for a child's future. If a family is going through court proceedings, it typically takes around 6 months for their case to be resolved.

The benefits of short-term fostering placements

This style of fostering gives families flexibility in their future plans, as they do not have the commitment of longer-term care.
Short-term fostering gives you the opportunity to impact the lives of a wide range of children over the course of your fostering journey.
You can provide care to children who are in a time of crisis within their family and will be closely involved in working to reunite families or helping children transition to a long-term home, whether that’s with a foster family or through adoption.

Things to consider when choosing short-term foster care

Each style of fostering comes with its own benefits, as well as some unique challenges. With short-term fostering, it’s important to consider various factors, including:

Some families prefer to avoid short-term fostering as they feel it can be disruptive for their own young children, by nature of the fact that different children will be moving in and out of the home.
It’s also important to consider the emotional factors behind a short-term foster placement; it can be very difficult to say goodbye to a child when they go back home or move on to another family, especially for younger children. It can be helpful to remind your children that you have helped keep them safe while they have been with you, and if they are able to go back home to be with their family, that is a wonderful achievement.

Short term fostering can range from a single night to 2 years, depending on the needs of the child and family. Find out more about short term foster care.

Foster families, like all families, come in various shapes and sizes. What is important to us is that children receive the love, care, and security they require. Let's look at how we help build families in a modern way.

Understanding long-term fostering

Long-term fostering lasts over two years and typically continues until the child turns eighteen. A child will transition into a long-term placement if court proceedings have decided that it is unsafe for them to return to their family home. When a child moves into a long-term placement, there is an understanding that they will stay with the same family until they reach adulthood wherever possible.

How long do long-term fostering placements last?

A long-term placement will typically last until a child is 18 and is able to live on their own. However, many foster families choose to allow their young person to stay with them longer, as they have truly become part of the family. We call this a ‘Staying Put’ arrangement, and it’s a wonderful way to support a young person’s transition into independence and adulthood.

The benefits of long-term foster placements

Long-term fostering provides an incredible sense of stability for a child in foster care and creates a perfect environment for them to heal from their trauma and achieve the best outcomes. This is a great opportunity for foster parents who feel that they’re talents would best be put to use helping a select number of children.
Long-term fostering provides every member of your family the chance to build deep and lasting bonds together, which can last far beyond the child’s time spent living in your home. This style of fostering minimises disruption to your own children while fostering, as their foster sibling will be a fixture of your family life until they reach adulthood and move on.
Your fostering allowance will remain undisrupted until a child leaves care at the age of 18.

Things to consider when choosing long-term foster care

With long-term care, a child truly becomes part of your family, meaning you will be with them until they are an adult. It’s important to consider how you will factor them into your future family plans.
Though you will act like the child’s full-time parent, as a foster parent legal responsibility for the young person will remain with their parents or their Local Authority. This is different from adoption, where you legally become the child’s parent.

Long-term fostering provides children with the stability of a single foster family right through to adulthood. Learn about the role, allowances and more.

keeping siblings together in foster care

Fostering siblings is an important role that enables brothers and sisters to stay together in care. Learn about the role, allowances and more.

Why families choose Orange Grove

Both long-term and short-term fostering can be equally rewarding, and you should consider all of these factors when deciding which option is best for you and your family. No matter which type of fostering you decide is right for you, you’ll be in safe hands if you choose to foster with us. Our focus on deep family bonds and ensuring that every member of your family has an engaging and rewarding fostering experience makes us a great choice for families with children.

Get in touch with us today to learn more about what we can offer you and your family, or check out our family hub for resources designed to help your children learn more about what it’s like to foster.