This report reviews theories and concepts of human development which provide a foundation for developing curriculum materials for foster parent training. The first section of the report consists of five papers which attempt to relate the developmental needs of children to the role and responsibilities of the foster parents. Chapter I describes the principles of the helping relationship which can provide a model for a positive relationship between foster parents and their foster children. Chapters II and III describe the characteristics of children from birth to age 12 in the areas of psychosocial, physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Included in this section is a table which outlines year-by-year growth in these four areas and the implications of specific characteristics at each age for the foster parent/foster child relationship. Chapters IV and V review the characteristics of adolescents and provide suggestions for handling problems at different stages of adolescent development. The second section of the report consists of 3 incidental papers, including the overview of foster child care services and two interviews on career training and preparation for prospective foster parents. (BD)