The thesis is a probe into the picture of alternative family care in the Czech Republic, oriented to the foster care. In the theoretical part a description of alternatice foster care for children removed from their biological family is given. It is concerned with vital needs of such children and their psychical deprivation. It tries to show why mothers waive their child and shows some aspects of social work in this field. The practical part of the thesis is concerned with the qualitative research that compares fostering in classical Czech foster families with fostering in special institutions {--} so called Big Foster Families. Research investigations are taken from the point of view of teenaged children being in foster care, and research is based on principles of modern (professional) fostering. The research investigations contain six interviews with children from classical families and four with children from special instituions for foster care. (The research is not concerned with SOS villages) Good quality of the foster care does not depend too much on the fact whether it is provided with a classical foster family or with a fostering institutions. It depends, first and foremost, on the character foster parent, i.e. if he/she is able to create positive relationships with the child and if he/she is able to adopt and accept the child unconditionally.