Foster children generally range in age from newborns to 18-year-olds. Under California law AB12, foster care has been extended to the age of 21.
Foster parents may decide what age group they are best able to care for, and whether they can accept boys or girls, children with health issues, disabilities or other special needs.
Children can be placed in foster homes for a few weeks to as long as one (1) year, depending on the type of care the foster parents are trained to provide. The goal of foster care is to safely return children to their birth families and when that’s not possible, find a permanent loving home for the children.
San Mateo County has a particular need for foster homes for adolescents, siblings and emergency placements.