L.S.
I fostered for a while. Took in one infant and one toddler (seperate times)
The infant was born addicted to drugs, and his mother went to rehab straight from the hospital. The baby had alot of physical problems and neurological problems from the drugs (seizures, swollowing problems, etc). I had him for 6 months while his mother went through detox, rehab, and sober living... she the got a job, got her own apartment, and took her baby back home with her. It was a wonderful experience...knowing that although she was wrong for doing drugs while pregnant, that she had the ability to turn it all around to take care of her son.
The toddler I had was a similiar experience, only not born addicted, mother went through rehab, and school for dental hygeine, got her daughter back, and now is married with 2 more children.
I know these examples are not the norm... but the place I fostered for was really great about taking in kids that had a plan to return to their birth parents. More of a short term thing, with most of the kids only being in care for 6 months to a year.
I think now that my daughter is older I would like to get back into doing it again, although it is hard to see them go after they become part of the family, and I am not sure that I woud take in a teenager with problems, as I have a 15 year old myself.
Hope it helps