[aMarylandfamily]

I'm not sure if it is true in all states, but Maryland no longer accepts voluntary placement in foster or respite care for children when a family is in crisis ... they are forced to keep the child at home even if they are unable to care for him/her or "place" their child with social services, charged legally with neglect or abandonment depending on the circumstances and the child is processed for Permanency Placement ... often referred to as adoption ... with family reunification in between. Having experienced the need for services and narrowly avoiding legal charges, I can only state the unfairness of this ... Social Services should be there to help not to put a family further into crisis ... this may be where "placing" a child is coming from ....

Just another insight - hope it helps clear some things up.