The number of children in need has declined over the years. The importance of foster home has grown as the demands for child care become increasingly characterized by high levels of specialization and diversification. Also, the demand for quality in child care has led to a social tendency toward smaller facilities. Against this background, Korea’s child welfare facilities, having long served as providers of outof-home and alternative care for children in need under 18 years of age, have since around 2000 been facing the need to change their functions and roles.
