Objectives:
Analysing the care and educational activities undertaken by foster parents, the support they receive from external institutions (i.e., schools, social welfare institutions), and their actual needs in this respect.

Material and methods:
Quantitative and qualitative research. First phase – survey research, author's questionnaire. Second phase – case studies, qualitative interviews.

Results:
The research shows that the basic problems and difficulties diagnosed in children in foster care are related to health, education, or upbringing, which guides the care and educational activities undertaken by foster parents. In their activities, they need help and support from external institutions. The research shows the needs in this respect.

Conclusions:
Family-based foster care provides a living and developmental environment for children who, for various reasons, cannot be raised in their natural families. Family care should meet the child's needs and provide care, education, support, and other services depending on the child's needs. Currently, there is a significant shortage of foster families and family-type children's homes, so it is worth looking at the family-based forms that already exist, the problems and difficulties they report, and the possibilities for supporting them.