Child Welfare Licence (CWEL) Practice Exam

The main purpose of substitute or foster care is to provide temporary placements that ensure children's safety. This system is designed to intervene in situations where a child's home environment may pose a risk to their well-being, often due to abuse, neglect, or parental incapacity. Foster care serves as a protective measure, allowing children to live in a safe and stable environment while steps are taken to address the issues in their birth families. This transitional care is critical because it prioritizes the immediate safety and health of the child. While other factors, such as potential reunification with biological families and support for family-centered services, are also important in the broader context of child welfare, the primary and urgent need addressed by foster care is the protection of children from harm. Therefore, fostering provides a temporary but crucial solution in child welfare, focusing explicitly on safeguarding children during a vulnerable time in their lives.