Foster care is the care provided to children in cases sometimes due to problems within a family, such as neglect, abuse both violent and sexual, parental substance abuse, depression or other health problems and as a result, the environment in which the child lives may be considered unsafe or inappropriate, or even life-threatening. In such cases, agencies such as the police, social workers or doctors may recommend that the child be taken into temporary care, until the situation can be investigated or rectified. In the most serious cases, the child may remain in care until the age of 16 or even sometimes adopted by another family. Whether short term or long term and whatever the reason for a child being removed from their familiar environment, all of this can have a huge effect on the child both emotionally, mentally and physically which could eventually have lasting effects into adulthood. This essay will explore both theory and research on the impact that foster care can have on a child's development and emotional well-being as well as the possible effects of factors in why they were placed in foster care. 'welcome. In the UK in 2013 there were 68,110 children in care, 28,460 of these were no longer in care by the end of the year and a further 3,980 of these children had been legally adopted by other families. The largest majority of children placed in care were there for reasons of neglect or abuse, at 62%. The second highest number, at 15%, was due to reasons of family dysfunction and the lowest, at 1%, was due to family income (Glenndennings 2013). There are different forms of placement intended to meet the needs of children either for short periods or for a possible long term. Emergency shelter...... middle of paper...... like their parents would do when they were in a situation with others. For example, if a young boy regularly sees his father or mother's partner hitting him, he will be more likely to repeat the same behavior either towards his own future partner, or sometimes even towards his own children (Isom 1998). Regardless of the factors that led to a child being placed in foster care, some children may enter foster care with already existing problems and because many have suffered from abuse, neglect or inadequate care, it is believed that those who leave care in the future are at higher risk of suffering poor physical and mental health and poor educational outcomes, in addition to potential teenage pregnancies, unemployment, involvement in activities crimes and the risk that in the future their own children will be taken into care (Wakelyn 2011).