Dr. Kalyani Gopal presents a step-by-step guide for would be foster parents in the United States. She provides an introduction to institutional foster care in the US, noting psychological and sociological features as well as legal and bureaucratic formalities. The first two "stages," as they present the chapters, focus on coming to the decision to foster and preparing for it once you've decided. Later stages look at what's important about the welcoming stage and being ready for displaced trauma, adaptation and attachment, specific issue areas as parents (school, mental health, agency related, etc.), evidenced based strategies for empowering foster children, and finally letting go as they transition to independent or other living. Irene Clements, president of the American Foster Parent Association, writes an approving forward. Dr. Gopal is a clinical psychologist with a 25 year background working with foster parents. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)