How should the agency manage foster family recruitment and retention?

• A. Through outreach, fair screening, ongoing support, provision of training and resources, and regular appreciation and supervision to build stability
• B. Through random recruitment with no screening
• C. By limiting recruitment to a single region
• D. By paying no attention to retention

Answer: (A)

Building a sustainable foster care program relies on a comprehensive recruitment-and-retention system that actively engages potential families, screens them fairly to ensure safety and fit, and supports them over time. The best approach brings together outreach to recruit diverse and qualified caregivers, fair and thorough screening to protect children, ongoing support and supervision so families feel guided and capable, access to training and resources to handle challenges, and regular appreciation to strengthen commitment. When these pieces are in place, placements are more stable, children’s needs are better met, and families are more likely to stay engaged.

Why this is the right approach: recruitment without careful screening can place children with unsuitable caregivers, which risks safety and stability. Limiting recruitment to a single region reduces the pool of potential families, limiting opportunities and weakening the system’s ability to match children with appropriate homes. Ignoring retention neglects a critical driver of stable placements; without ongoing support and recognition, even well-screened families can struggle, leading to higher turnover and more placement disruptions.