(or "regular" foster care): This is what is usually meant when the term "foster care" is used. Family foster care in most cases involves taking in a child who is not a part of your own family, on either a short or long term basis, until they either return to their birth family, move on to another foster home or other setting, are adopted, or turn 18.

"TFC" is similar to Family Foster Care, except that it involves taking in a child who exhibits more severe behaviors and has some kind of counseling, treatment, or other additional support system in place.

This involves taking in a child who is a part of your family or whom you know in some other way. Unlike with Family Foster Care, a kinship home is identified by the county or other referring agency, and then must choose which foster care agency (such as Children's Choice) they want to work with.

This involves caring for a child on a short-term basis, such as over a weekend, while their "regular" foster parents are unavailable. This can often include caring for medically needy children as well.