Fostering Now summarizes the findings of the largest recent study into foster care in the UK. It provides an overview of 16 research projects specially commissioned by the government as part of its Supporting Parents initiative and highlights the main implications for policymakers and all professionals involved in the fostering process. The research explores the views of foster children, social workers, foster carers and parents, investigating their diverse experiences of, for example, arranging a placement, carer training and support, and the child's return home. It looks at how the placement is influenced by factors such as contact with birth families, foster carers? parenting styles, and factors