US interest in fostering migrant kids booms as COVID fears ease

Transitional foster homes are widely considered to be the best option for unaccompanied children in US custody.

As a record number of children fled violence from Central America and crossed the Mexican border alone this spring, most were sent to large-scale emergency shelters that the Biden administration quickly opened at United States military bases, convention centres, and fairgrounds. Transitional foster homes, where families are licenced to care for migrant children, are widely considered to be the best option for children in US custody, especially for minors who have been traumatised, are very young, pregnant or are teen parents and require extra emotional support. Providers say in recent months, interest in fostering migrant children is booming, with Americans getting vaccinated against the coronavirus and virus-related restrictions on daily life being lifted. They are urging the government to move more kids into foster homes.