The placement and care for foster children is under the permanent monitoring and the responsibility of the relevant governmental authority. The authority could proceed in a particular manner on each case depending on the circumstances which could be: the biological parents are unable or unwilling to provide care for their children; the birth parents or the child are having problems of physical or psychological matter; when a child is removed from a parent or a caregiver because it is believed that such removal is necessary for their safety, etc.

The foster parents are eligible to a monetary reimbursement by the state agency which is to cover the expenses for the upbringing of the child and varies in each state and city.

The Federal Child Welfare programs are working and helping in several directions:

- The Social Security Act - defines the primary sources of Federal funding available to states for their foster care social programs. These funds contain both non entitlement authorizations and authorized entitlements.

- family preservation services - these services include extended and adoptive families, which are at risk or crisis; the services provides temporary help for the parents or the caregivers as well as programs for improving the parenting skills.