New research, published in Science, shows strong evidence that children fare much better in foster care than in an institution. The study -- conducted in Bucharest, Romania -- could be a wake-up call to nations that feel institutionalization is the best way to handle abandoned children. Children reared in institutions showed greatly diminished intellectual performance relative to children reared in their families of origin. Further, children who were randomly assigned to foster care experienced "significant gains in cognitive function."

While bypassed in the headline, note the finding relative to children raised in their family of origin. After that, we have foster care which is somewhat the red-headed stepchild of child care. It has a place of value, and importance. And its a difficult job which deserves more credit. But most important to me is how the real value of parenting comes from familial lines, and then significantly through the care of a family. These significant gains, I wager, cannot be achieved through the finagling of renaming them after programs or situations that have those gains. Its all relative.


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