Based on the Girls and Boys Town's "Common Sense Parenting" approach, this book presents an approach to foster parenting focusing on building relationships with children, teaching them skills, and empowering them by teaching self-discipline and self-control. Research-based solutions are provided for common concerns, including building a trusting relationship with a foster child who still has a strong attachment to his or her original family, working with the foster child's parents who may be uncooperative or hostile, respecting the foster child's ethnic/cultural background while teaching skills to help him or her succeed in the larger world, and handling transitions when a foster child moves to another placement or returns home. Following an introductory chapter discussing the value of foster care, the chapters are: (1) "Building a Relationship with Your Foster Child"; (2) "The Professional Foster Parent"; (3) "Working with a Foster Child's Family"; (4) "Creating a Safe Environment"; (5) "Setting Expectations and Sending Clear Messages"; (6) "The Benefits of Teaching"; (7) "Introduction to Teaching Social Skills"; (8) "The ABCs of Behavior"; (9) "Rewarding Good Behavior"; (10) "Giving Negative Consequences"; (11) "Using Time-In and Time-Out"; (12) "Preventing Problems before They Occur"; (13) "Giving Effective Praise"; (14) "Staying Calm"; (15) "Correcting Misbehavior"; (16) "Teaching Self-Control"; (17) "Solving Problems and Making Decisions"; (18) "Creating a Strong Spiritual Foundation"; and (19) "Handling Transitions." (Contains 15 references.) (KB)