A child may stay in a foster home until his or her parents are able to care for him or her again or until a suitable placement can be made with a relative. If this is not possible, a child may stay in the foster home until he or she can be adopted. The average length of stay in foster care is 12 months, however the length of stay in foster care varies depending on the child and the family’s case plan. The length of stay in care also is influenced by the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997. The goal is to seek a permanent home and family for the child as quickly as possible, be it reunification with the boilogical parents, kinship care or adoption.